Acute epidural haematoma following ventriculoperitoneal shunt in an adult

ABSTRACT

The authors report a 50-year-old patient of pituitary macroadenoma with hydrocephalus, who developed a large left parieto-occipital epidural haematoma following placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. This is the first case report describing this complication in an adult patient, and it is hypothesised that coagulation of the dura along with rapid lowering of intracranial pressure, may lead to its stripping from the bone with attendant tear in the emissary vein [s] resulting in the possibility of epidural haematoma formation in adults. Judicious dural coagulation should therefore avoid this uncommon and potentially life-threatening condition