Pneumocephalus following treatment of a stapes gusher.
A case history is presented of a patient who underwent stapedectomy complicated by a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) gusher. A persistent postoperative CSF leak was controlled by elevation of the head and spinal drainage. Retrograde passage of air through a labyrinthine fistula, however, resulted in pneumocephalus and transient neurologic deficit. This is a rare but serious complication of treatment of a stapes gusher which demonstrates the potential for entry of air intracranially in the presence of a perilymph fistula.
D000328:Adult; D002558:Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010498:Perilymph; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D013201:Stapes Surgery