Pneumocephalus after thoracoscopic excision of posterior mediastinal tumor.
Pneumocephalus is a very rare complication of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). A 66-year-old man developed pneumocephalus secondary to thoracoscopic excision of a neurogenic tumor in the posterior mediastinum. Pneumocephalus was diagnosed by brain computed tomography. Neurosurgical intervention was performed after conservative therapy had failed. The patient's condition had resolved without any neurologic sequelae 2 years later. When a patient has a relatively large amount of chest tube drainage and neurologic symptoms after VATS, the possibility of pneumocephalus due to cerebrospinal fluid leakage must be considered.
Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Yao-Kuang
YK
Huang
Ming-Shian
MS
Lu
Yun-Hen
YH
Liu
Yi-Cheng
YC
Wu
Hui-Ping
HP
Liu
D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000009:adverse effects*