Airhead: intraparenchymal pneumocephalus after commercial air travel.
BACKGROUND
Commercial air travel either in the postoperative setting or after open skull fracture has the potential to place patients at unnecessary risk. Although the timing is not clearly known, it should be established that there is no persistent fistulous tract that could introduce additional intraparenchymal air.


METHODS
We present a case of a gentleman with dramatic pneumocephalus after commercial air travel.


CONCLUSIONS
Because of the potential for serious and permanent injury that can result from a dramatic and sustained increase in intracranial pressure, air travel should be delayed until there is no evidence of a fistulous tract. We discuss some basic in-flight options and precautions should change in timing of travel not be possible.
Beda
Rachel D
RD
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Khot
Sandeep P
SP
Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
Manning
Thomas
T
Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle 98104, WA, USA.
Walker
Melanie
M
Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle 98104, WA, USA. Electronic address: walkerm@u.washington.edu.
D000388:Air; D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D012887:Skull Fractures; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014195:Travel