Emergency rooms see many babies, for many reasons. Theres a fever, a seizure, an accident, vomiting and diarrhea. There could be fussiness, lethargy or problems with feeding. Many infants are easily treated and sent home, but doctors say some of these same little patients may show up next time with a brain injury caused by abuse one that leads to permanent disability or death. Sorting out which babies have hidden brain trauma from abuse isnt easy, if they seem relatively well when brought into the hospital with any in a list of common symptoms. At Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, researchers have created a blood test to detect bleeding in the brain that may have resulted from abusive head trauma sometimes called shaken baby syndrome. They published an explanation of how the test was developed in last weeks JAMA Pediatrics journal. This is for those instances where they look well, said lead author Rachel Berger, chief of the Child Advocacy Center at Childrens. A physician who also holds a masters in public health, Dr. Berger said good pediatric emergency room doctors generally use their clinical judgment to detect 70 percent of … Continue reading →

A bouncer for a 6th Street bar is accused of injuring an intoxicated patron -- who then had to be induced into a coma to treat a serious brain bleed. (Image credit: MGN Online) A bouncer for a 6th Street bar is accused of shoving an intoxicated patron to the ground last month. The man struck his head and had to be induced into a coma to treat a serious brain bleed. According to the arrest affidavit, Jerius Jamal McFarland, 23, is charged with aggravated assault (serious bodily injury), a second degree felony. It happened Wednesday, March 29, at approximately 10:45 p.m. at the Chuggin' Monkey bar located in the 200 block of East 6th Street. Court documents say the victim had been escorted out of the bar by McFarland, at the bartender's request, because he was intoxicated and was bothering other patrons. Once outside, surveillance video showed the victim and McFarland talk for a few minutes and the victim trying to walk back into the bar, but McFarland blocked him with an outstretched arm, the affidavit says. Police say when the intoxicated man tried to stagger back in the bar again, the surveillance video showed he was having trouble … Continue reading →

I am a survivor of a brainstem aneurysm rupture and brain bleed. On a Sunday morning this past November, suddenly I felt a pop in my ears. The fire-like pain ascended from my chin across my face and down my spine to the soles of my feet. Next, I felt the worst headache I had ever had.Tylenol did not alleviate the headache. With over two decades of experience in health care, I recognized the nature and seriousness of my symptoms. I used an app on my smartphone to video-call my dear friend, a physician, to let her know what I suspected. I was driven to a nearby ER and then airlifted, within an hour, to a top neurosurgery center at Johns Hopkins. Tests confirmed the brainstem bleed that was caused by the rupture. Two successful brain surgeries later, I am managing occupational, physical and speech therapy, and I am able to walk, talk, hear, see and write. As I continue to follow my neuro-rehabilitation program, it appears that I will be able to live independently, drive and return to work. According to data provided by the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, one in 50, or 6 million in the U.S. have un-ruptured … Continue reading →