Pontine bleeding following drainage of subdural hematoma in craniospinal hypotension

Abstract

Craniospinal hypotension is the syndrome of orthostatic headache associated with low cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Imaging findings are usually explained by Monro-Kellie hypothesis stating that the craniospinal compartment is incompressible and any increase in volume of one of the craniospinal constituents (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and parenchyma) must be compensated by a decrease in volume of another constituent or vice versa. We report a case of craniospinal hypotension in whom drainage of subdural hematoma upon clinical impairments resulted in pontine hemorrhage, supporting Monro-Kellie hypothesis.