title: Immediate postoperative death due to hypothalamic injury following surgery for craniopharyngioma.
abstract: Autonomic disturbances due to hypothalamic injury that result in postoperative death are rare complications following surgery for craniopharyngioma. We discuss the case of a child who died due to hypothalamic injury following radical excision of a multi-compartmental craniopharyngioma. Mechanisms and clinical manifestations of hypothalamic injury and ways to avoid this fatal complication are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum 695 011, India.
authors.forename: Biji
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahuleyan
authors.forename: Girish
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Suresh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nair
mesh_terms: D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003399:Craniotomy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008305:Malignant Hyperthermia / Q000209:etiology; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery