Ventriculitis, secondary to septicemia - Erler Zimmer 3D anatomy Series MP2008

This dissection model highlighting Ventriculitis, secondary to septicemia is part of the exclusive Monash 3D anatomy series, a comprehensive series of human dissections reproduced with ultra-high resolution color 3D printing.

Clinical History.

A 50-year-old alcoholic was admitted with a 2-week history of weakness and shortness of breath. Early in the illness he reported a productive cough, chest pain, and blood-stained sputum. Examination revealed a febrile, cyanotic, sleepy man with shortness of breath. A rub on the right lower lobe was present. The rest of the examination was unremarkable. The patient deteriorated steadily, and a lumbar puncture was performed on the morning of his death. A green opalescent fluid was obtained. A blood culture produced Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pathology

This specimen is an example of ventriculitis, with pneumococcal meningitis and right basal pneumonia also found at autopsy. Horizontal slice through both cerebral hemispheres shows both lateral ventricles. The ventricles show thickened and rough ependymal lining with accumulation of cellular debris around the choroid plexus and also in the anterior horn. The inferior surface shows similar changes and also shows the normal arrangement of the caudate nucleus, lentiform nucleus, and internal capsule.
Histology demonstrated extensive neutrophil infiltration in the subarachnoid space, as well as severe multifocal (sub)endothelial infiltration with obstruction of the vascular lumen and involvement of blood vessel walls. The inflammation spread to the brain parenchyma causing hemorrhage and necrosis.

Additional Information.

Ventriculitis is a rare complication of intracranial infection. In adults, it most commonly occurs as a secondary complication of surgery/instrumentation or trauma, rather than as primary community-acquired meningitis. In these cases, the microorganisms responsible are similar to other nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, particularly staphylococci or resistant Gram-negative bacilli. Infants younger than 6 months of age have a higher incidence of ventricular infection. The presentation may be more subtle than in bacterial meningitis or may be as obstructive hydrocephalus, secondary to subsequent aqueductal obstruction. Diagnosis depends on laboratory tests and cerebrospinal fluid imaging, particularly by CT scans and MRI.

What advantages does the Monash University anatomical dissection collection offer over plastic models or plastinated human specimens?

• Each body replica has been carefully created from selected patient X-ray data or human cadaver specimens selected by a highly trained team of anatomists at the Monash University Center for Human Anatomy Education to illustrate a range of clinically important areas of anatomy with a quality and fidelity that cannot be achieved with conventional anatomical models-this is real anatomy, not stylized anatomy.
• Each body replica has been rigorously checked by a team of highly trained anatomists at the Center for Human Anatomy Education, Monash University, to ensure the anatomical accuracy of the final product.
• The body replicas are not real human tissue and therefore not subject to any barriers of transportation, import, or use in educational facilities that do not hold an anatomy license. The Monash 3D Anatomy dissection series avoids these and other ethical issues that are raised when dealing with plastinated human remains.