title: Herpetic pneumonitis following posterior fossa surgery.
abstract: Reactivation of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) following manipulation of the trigeminal nerve root. has been reported in a substantial number of immunocompetent patients. Usually it was manifest as an oral mucocutaneous lesion and considered a benign postoperative complication. In the case described here, however, severe respiratory distress due to herpetic pneumonia developed following a pontocerebellar angle surgery complicated by an orolabial herpetic lesion. The delays necessary to confirm HSV diagnosis prior to initiating treatment are discussed, considering the rarity of this complication following neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurosurgery, Infectious diseases, Pneumology, and Microbiology, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ladouceur
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duperval
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cantin
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Frost