Otogenic tension pneumocephalus caused by therapeutic lumbar CSF drainage for post-traumatic hydrocephalus: a case report.
Tension pneumocephalus occurs when a continuous flow of air accumulates in the intracranial cavity and produces a mass effect on the brain. We describe a case in which tension pneumocephalus was caused by the performance of continuous lumbar CSF drainage in a middle-aged man who had experienced a temporal bone fracture. Continuous lumbar CSF drainage is commonly performed in patients with temporal bone or basilar skull fractures to treat concomitant post-traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, CSF otorrhea, and/or hydrocephalus. However; to the best of our knowledge, there has been no previously reported case of tension pneumocephalus occurring as a complication of this procedure in a patient with a temporal bone fracture.
Chan
Edwin K
EK
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, New York City, NY 10003, USA. echan@nyee.edu
Meiteles
Lawrence Z
LZ
D000059:Accidents; D000328:Adult; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D015541:Off-Road Motor Vehicles; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000628:therapy*; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed