Acute pneumocephalus: an unusual complication of thoracotomy.
The authors describe a iatrogenic cerebrospinal fluid fistula into the pleural cavity, a rare and unusual complication of thoracic surgery. The importance of considering this diagnosis in patients who suffer from headache and altered mental status after thoracotomy and the early surgical repair of this potentially fatal complication are stressed.
Sganzerla
E P
EP
Neurosurgical Clinic University of Milano, Italy.
Tisi
E
E
Lucarini
C
C
Ceretti
L
L
Arrigoni
C
C
Gaini
S M
SM
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid; D005402:Fistula / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*; D013908:Thoracotomy / Q000009:adverse effects*