Objective: To describe a simple variation of burr hole craniostomy for the management of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) that uses a frontal drainage system to facilitate timely decompression in the event of tension pneumocephalus and spares the need for additional surgery.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 20 patients with CSDH who underwent burr hole craniostomy and 20 patients who underwent the same procedure alongside the placement of a 5 Fr neonatal feeding tube as a backup drainage for the anterior craniostomy. Depending on the situation, the secondary drain stayed for a maximum of 72 hours to be opened and used in emergency settings for drainage, aspiration, or as a 1-way valve with a water seal.
Results: The outcomes of 20 patients who underwent this procedure and 20 controls are described. One patient from each group presented tension pneumocephalus. One was promptly resolved by opening the backup drain under a water seal to evacuate pneumocephalus and the other patient had to undergo a reopening of the craniostomy.
Conclusions: The described variation of burr hole craniostomy represents a low-cost and easy-to-implement technique that can be used for emergency decompression of tension pneumocephalus. It also has the potential to reduce reoperation rates and CSDH recurrence. Prospective controlled research is needed to validate this approach further.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.04.138 | DOI Listing |
Curr Med Imaging
January 2025
Consultant in Emergency Medicine, WIC Clinic, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
Introduction: Pneumocephalus and pneumorrhachis are rare postoperative complications, commonly occurring within a few days to months after spinal surgery. They are very rarely reported after thoracic surgeries. This case highlights a unique presentation in the emergency department involving headache and vomiting caused by late complications following thoracic surgery with a titanium rib implant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAIMS Neurosci
November 2024
Clinical Sciences, California Northstate University College of Medicine, Elk Grove, CA, USA.
It is rare to find free floating fat droplets in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) spaces of the brain. When fat droplets are seen in the CSF spaces, the most common cause is the rupture of a dermoid cyst. Dermoid cysts are congenital inclusion cysts that form during the neural tube closure between the third and fifth weeks of embryogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSurg Neurol Int
December 2024
Department of Neurosurgery, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Background: Causes of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea could be divided into primary (spontaneous) and secondary (head trauma and iatrogenic). Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) has emerged as a cause for spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea but is still underestimated, may be overlooked and needs special consideration in management. The objective of this study is to demonstrate spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea as the primary presentation of IIH and explore the algorithm of management.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOper Neurosurg (Hagerstown)
January 2025
Department of Neurosurgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Pudong, Shanghai, China.
Background And Objectives: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a well-established intervention for alleviating both motor and nonmotor symptoms of Parkinson disease. However, a common complication of stereotaxic DBS surgery is pneumocephalus, which can compromise electrode accuracy, complicate postoperative assessments, and negatively affect the long-term outcomes of DBS surgery. This report proposes a comprehensive and robust set of recommendations aimed at optimizing DBS surgical protocols to achieve zero pneumocephalus outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCureus
November 2024
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, USA.
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