Pseudohypoxic Brain Swelling after Unilateral Burr Hole Drainage: A Novel Case Report

Abstract

An 85-year-old man underwent emergency right trepanation and drainage for a symptomatic chronic subdural hematoma. Pseudohypoxic brain swelling (PHBS) was suspected because magnetic resonance imaging revealed diffuse brain swelling. Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage was not obvious during or after surgery, most of the reported PHBS cases have leaked CSF during craniotomy or spine surgery. PHBS has not been previously reported in patients without obvious CSF leakage or after unilateral burr hole drainage. Herein, we report an extremely rare case with a literature review investigating its pathogenesis and clinical features.

Pseudohypoxic brain swelling following elective lumbar laminectomy: A rare case report and review of literature

“…Their case presents a patient who underwent an uneventful lumbar decompression and fusion with postoperative complications characteristic of pseudohypoxic brain swelling with full neurological recovery similar to our patient. In 2022, the case of an uncomplicated unilateral burr hole drainage for a patient with a subdural hematoma (SDH) with postoperative complications characteristic of PIHV was reported [ 12 ]. Of note, this case also resulted in a favorable recovery for their patient which may suggest a positive prognostic factor in PIHV after neurosurgical cases without obvious intraoperative CSF leakage.…”