Turkish Neurosurgery
2013 , Vol 23 , Num 4
Emergency Management of an Acute Tension Pneumocephalus Following Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Istanbul University, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI :
10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.5822-12.0
Tension pneumocephalus is a rare and life threatening complication of intracranial surgical procedures, and requires immediate recognition
and surgical intervention. Tension pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery is extremely rare and commonly seen
as a delayed complication. To our knowledge, early postoperative tension pneumocephalus after shunt surgery was reported only in one
other publication. We present a case of acute tension pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for normal pressure
hydrocephalus, which was managed well with close neurological follow-up and rapid surgical intervention. The use of the portable CT scanner
in this case saved significant time, without the transport of the patient to the radiology unit, made early surgical intervention possible, and
prevented morbidity and mortality.
Keywords :
Tension pneumocephalus, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, Portable CT scanner, Emergency surgery