Unusual supratentorial complication following posterior fossa surgery

Sir,

Postoperative hematoma distant from the primary surgical site is a rare entity, with a reported incidence of 0.8-1.3%.[12] These have been reported to occur both ipsilaterally and contralaterally in the supratentorial compartments.[34] However, occurrence of hematoma across the tentorium has been sparingly reported, with just nine cases reported in the literature.[567] However, we have not come across any case in the English language wherein there was development of extradural hematoma on one side and subdural hygroma on the contralateral side following primary decompression of the posterior fossa tumor. Development of EDH on an intact side as compared to the side where a burr hole was made for placement of reservoir stimulates us to ponder over the possible inciting factor.

A 13-year-female child was brought with complaints of visual disturbances for 10 months, gait swaying for 3 months, and headache and vomiting for 2 months duration. Neurological examination revealed a conscious child with preserved higher mental functions. Vision acuity was perception of hand movements at 1 m. Fundus examination showed bilateral florid papilledema. Gait was ataxic. MRI brain showed a well-defined lesion of size 6 × 6 × 5.5 cm in the midline fourth ventricle with solid-cystic components extending into brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncle with hydrocephalus. The lesion was heterogeneously hyperintense on T1W, T2W, and FLAIR images. On gadolinium contrast T1W imaging, the lesion was enhancing heterogeneously. There was gross dilatation of the lateral and third ventricle with periventricular lucencies suggestive of raised ICP [Figure 1]. Our provisional diagnosis was pilocytic astrocytoma. With the patient in the prone position, and head fixed in the Mayfield head clamp with pediatric pins, a suboccipital craniectomy was performed. Following craniectomy, the dura was very tense, and hence, a burr hole at Frazier's point on the left side was made for placing an Ommaya reservoir. Guarded aspiration of CSF was done. Following drainage of approximately 30 cc of CSF, the posterior fossa dura was lax. The tumor was approached through the telo-velar approach. A near total excision of the lesion was performed and the CSF pathway was restored by confirming free flow of CSF from aqueduct. Because of poor respiratory efforts, the patient could not be weaned off the ventilator. As a precautionary measure, we connected the reservoir to drain CSF at a pressure more than 12 cm of H₂O. In approximately 3 h after surgery, 50 mL of CSF was drained. There was no improvement in the sensorium and hence a CT scan of brain was performed which showed a large extradural hematoma in the right parietal region measuring 5 × 5 × 4 cm with compression of the ipsilateral lateral ventricles, midline shift of the brain parenchyma, and subdural hygroma in the contralateral side with catheter in the left ventricle [Figure 2]. Penetrations of the pin into the calvarium and coagulation abnormalities were considered to be the possible causative factors and were actively sought after. The coagulation factors were all within the normal limits (bleeding time/clotting time/prothrombin time/activated partial thromboplastin time). There were no pin marks even on the outer table. No obvious bleeding source was found following evacuation of extradural hematoma, which was controlled by placement of dural hitch stitches. The patient improved in sensorium in the immediate postoperative period to E3 M4 Vt with left hemiparesis. She, however, could not be weaned off the ventilator and succumbed to respiratory failure on postoperative day 4.

Development of extradural hematoma is a known complication due to stripping of dura from the bone following craniotomy, as is constant bleeding from the marrow breached by pins of the clamps.[16] Occurrence at a place distant to the operative site is quite puzzling, especially on the side contralateral to the placement of a burr hole and reservoir placement.

Close

Figure 1

MRI brain (axial) sections T1W (a), T2W (b), and FLAIR (c) showed a well-defined heterogeneously hyperintense lesion in the midline fourth ventricle with solid-cystic components extending into brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncle. On gadolinium contrast T1W imaging (d-f), the lesion was enhancing heterogeneously. There was gross dilatation of the lateral and third ventricles with periventricular lucencies suggestive of raised ICP

Export to PPT

Close

Figure 2

CT scan brain axial and sagittal (reformatted) images showing a large extradural hematoma in the right parietal region with compression of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle, midline shift of the brain parenchyma. Subdural hygroma is noted on the left side

Export to PPT

Causative factors described for development of hematomas following craniotomies are:

• Coagulopathy[89]

• Venous rupture following snapping of subdural/extradural bridging veins, especially in the sitting position[510]

• Breach of the inner cortex by the pins of head clamp[135]

• Failure to place adequate dural hitches[110]

• Intraoperative hemodynamic changes.[11]

Tsugane et al., reported five cases of extradural hematoma following posterior fossa exploration, wherein they hypothesized sudden lowering of ventricular pressure as the inciting factor.[1] Another well-known documented cause is the pin site EDH, caused by penetration of pins of the head fixation clamps.[510] However, we had used pediatric pins of the Mayfield three pin rigid fixation clamps. Moreover, there was no breach of the calvarium.

Sudden lowering of intracranial pressure following CSF drainage causes stretch on the bridging veins. Snapping the veins may cause development of extradural/subdural hematoma.[412] However, it is not clear as to what mechanisms favor a hematoma on one side and hygroma contralaterally. A possible explanation/hypothesis that can be thought off is that following tumor excision and restoration of CSF flow, negative pressure was created on either side supratentorially. On the right side, this negative pressure might have caused stripping of dura with consequent formation of extradural hematoma. While on the left side, the shrinkage might have caused peri-tubal seepage of CSF into the subdural space, leading to hygroma. Nonrecovery following a brainstem surgery could be attributed to surgical insult, and supratentorial EDH might have added to the poor outcome. Postoperative hematomas in extra-axial locations are well-known dreaded complications and can happen even across the tentorium.