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Left decompressive craniectomy

Left decompressive craniectomy in a middle aged woman that suffered from severe cerebral vasospasm resulting in MCA (middle cerebral artery) territory infarction. She presented with anisocoria (unequal size of the eyes' pupils) with left mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), and right sided hemiplegia. Decompressive craniectomy has been shown to reduce mortality in such cases. It is a neurosurgical procedure that is aimed to decrease the intracranial pressure by increasing cranial compliance. This is achieved by removing a part of the skull to allow a swelling brain room to expand out rather then being herniated downward transtentorially within the brain due to a mass effect with the accompanied increased intracranial pressure.