[Pneumocephalus after spinal anesthesia]

Ann Fr Anesth Reanim. 2002 Mar;21(3):228-30. doi: 10.1016/s0750-7658(02)00575-0.
[Article in French]

Abstract

We report the case of a 76-year-old man who received a spinal anaesthesia for inguinal hernia repair surgery. A cranial CT scan which was performed because the patient complained of postoperative headache and hemiparesis showed an important pneumocephalus. Because postoperative questioning revealed that the patient had a chronic and neglected rhinorrhea, we hypothesise that this pneumocephalus was secondary to an old unknown osteodural leak with intracranial air entry secondary to the spinal anaesthesia-releated decrease in CSF pressure.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anesthesia, Spinal / adverse effects*
  • Hernia, Inguinal / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pneumocephalus / diagnostic imaging
  • Pneumocephalus / etiology*
  • Pneumocephalus / therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnostic imaging
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology*
  • Postoperative Complications / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed