Decompressive craniectomy 116 h after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction.

The optimal timing of decompressive craniectomy in pediatric patients after presentation with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction is unknown. We report herein the case of a previously healthy 6-year-old Japanese girl who had good outcome after emergency decompressive craniectomy 116 h after malignant middle cerebral artery infarction. This case suggests that the timing of decompressive craniectomy can be delayed until deterioration of neurological findings and, compared with adults, a more prolonged time course for surgical intervention might be acceptable.