| Pneumocephalus: case illustrations and review. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20405340 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Pneumocephalus is commonly encountered after neurosurgical procedures but can also be caused by craniofacial trauma and tumors of the skull base and rarely, can occur spontaneously. Contributing factors for the development of pneumocephalus include head position, duration of surgery, nitrous oxide (N(2)O) anesthesia, hydrocephalus, intraoperative osmotherapy, hyperventilation, spinal anesthesia, barotauma, continuous CSF drainage via lumbar drain, epidural anesthesia, infections, and neoplasms. Clinical presentation includes headaches, nausea and vomiting, seizures, dizziness, and depressed neurological status. In this article, we review the incidence, mechanisms, precipitating factors, diagnosis, and management of pneumocephalus. Search of Medline, databases, and manual review of article bibliographies. Considering four case illustrations that typify pneumocephalus in clinical practice, we discuss the common etiologies, and confirm the diagnosis with neuroimaging and management strategies. Avoidance of contributing factors, high index of suspicion, and confirmation with neuroimaging are important in attenuating mortality and morbidity. A significant amount of pneumocephalus can simulate a space-occupying lesion. Supplemental oxygen increases the rate of absorption of pneumocephalus. |
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Authors:
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Clemens M Schirmer; Carl B Heilman; Anish Bhardwaj |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Case Reports; Journal Article; Review |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Neurocritical care Volume: 13 ISSN: 1556-0961 ISO Abbreviation: Neurocrit Care Publication Date: 2010 Aug |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-07-05 Completed Date: 2010-10-14 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 101156086 Medline TA: Neurocrit Care Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 152-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Neurological Surgery, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. |
Export Citation:
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APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Adenoma
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surgery Adipose Tissue / transplantation Aged Arnold-Chiari Malformation / radiography, surgery Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / radiography, surgery Child Chronic Disease Diagnosis, Differential Hematoma, Subdural / radiography, surgery Humans Male Middle Aged Neurosurgical Procedures / adverse effects* Pituitary Neoplasms / surgery Pneumocephalus / etiology*, radiography, surgery Reconstructive Surgical Procedures Skull Base Neoplasms / radiography, surgery Tomography, X-Ray Computed |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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