1.
Skull Base
; 12(3): 167-73, 2002 Aug.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17167674
ABSTRACT
Chronic otitis media, unlike trauma, seldom leads to the development of tension pneumocephalus. Rarely, it occurs as a complication of mastoid surgery. A Melanesian woman sought treatment for loss of speech, hemiparesis, and headache 4 weeks after undergoing canal-down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma. The tension pneumocephalus was decompressed urgently by aspirating air via a cannula through the burr hole, and the mastoid cavity was obliterated. She recovered completely. Twelve additional patients with postmastoidectomy pneumocephalus reported in the literature are reviewed.