title: Pneumocephalus with BiPAP use after transsphenoidal surgery.
abstract: While the benefits of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea are well described, reports in the literature of complications from its use are rare. A patient who received postoperative BiPAP after undergoing transsphenoidal craniopharyngioma resection developed severe pneumocephalus and unplanned intensive care unit admission. Although the pneumocephalus resolved with conservative management over two weeks, we propose caution in the use of CPAP postoperatively in patients undergoing procedures of the head and neck.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kopelovich
authors.forename: Gabriel O
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: de la Garza
authors.forename: Jeremy D W
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Greenlee
authors.forename: Scott M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Chiedozie I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Udeh
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003397:Craniopharyngioma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D011007:Pneumocephalus / Q000209:etiology*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed