Pneumocephalus in thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair after lumbar drain removal and blood patch

Abstract

Lumbar spinal drain use during thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair has reduced the incidence of ischemic spinal cord injury with relatively low risk. We report a case of pneumocephalus in a 55-year-old woman who had undergone open repair of a 6.7-cm type IV thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. After lumbar spinal drain removal, she developed a postdural headache, which was subsequently treated with blood patch placement. After discharge, she had presented with transient headaches, perioral numbness, and left-hand weakness. Computed tomography revealed intraventricular gas within the lateral ventricles. Pneumocephalus is an exceedingly rare and potentially dangerous complication of lumbar spinal drains and blood patch placement.

Keywords

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm
• Cerebrospinal fluid pressure
• Postdural puncture headache
• Postoperative complication
• Pneumocephalus
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm