Tension pneumocephalus as a complication of intracranial pressure monitoring. A case report

Abstract

Intracranial pressure monitoring has become routine in the management of severe head injuries. We describe an unusual complication secondary to intracranial pressure monitoring with subdural cup catheter. A 35 year-old man was admitted to the Neurosurgery Department following blunt head trauma. He underwent insertion of subdural cup catheter for monitoring of intracranial pressure. A progress computed tomography scan of the brain revealed tension pneumocephalus. As far as the authors are aware, this is the first reported case of tension pneumocephalus resulting from insertion of a subdural intracranial pressure monitor.

Keywords

• intracranial pressure monitoring
• complications
• tension pneumocephalus
• cup catheter
• head trauma