title: Meningitis and Pneumocephalus. A rare complication of external dacryocystorhinostomy.
abstract: Meningitis due to fracture of the fovea ethmoidalis during external dacryocystorhinostomy is a rare complication. We report a case of pneumocephalus and meningitis in a 51-year-old female who underwent an external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). Although extracranial complications during or after external DCR have been well-described, only one case of meningitis has been reported in the literature. Physical examination, computerised tomography, lumbar puncture, and bacteriologic cultures were used to make the diagnosis. The patient responded well to antibiotic therapy. Her symptoms resolved immediately and she was discharged on the 21st post-operative day. This complication emphasises the importance of careful surgical technique and a thorough knowledge of regional anatomy, during DCR and similar procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Black Sea Technical University, TR-61080 Trabzon, Turkey. ecakir@meds.ktu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Haydar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Usul
authors.forename: Kayhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuzeyli
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cakir
authors.forename: Refik
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caylan
authors.forename: H Ibrahim
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Imamoglu
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yazar
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: O Caglar
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Sayin
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D003607:Dacryocystitis / Q000601:surgery; D003608:Dacryocystorhinostomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008581:Meningitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography