Pneumocephalus

Pneumocephalus: causes, symptoms and treatment

Pneumocephalus is a condition in which air accumulates inside the skull. This can occur as a result of head trauma, surgery, infection, and certain medical procedures such as pulmonary ventilation.

Symptoms of pneumocephalus can vary depending on how severe the condition is. Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, convulsions and even loss of consciousness may occur. In more severe cases, paralysis or coma may occur.

Various techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can be used to diagnose pneumocephalus. Treatment depends on the cause of pneumocephalus and may include surgery, oxygen and antibiotics.

Although pneumocephalus can be a dangerous condition, most people who develop it recover without complications. However, it is important to seek medical help if suspicious symptoms appear to prevent possible complications.

Overall, pneumocephalus is a rare condition, but it can affect anyone at any age. Timely diagnosis and treatment can help prevent possible complications and ensure the patient's full recovery.

Pneumocephalus is a rare complication of an inflammatory process or head injury, consisting in the penetration and accumulation of blood or air in the cranial cavity in the presence of a defect in the dura mater. Pneumocephalus is classified as traumatic or iatrogenic intracranial hemorrhage.

Pneumocephalus is rarely accompanied by clinical signs and is discovered incidentally during examination for another reason. Characteristic of pneumocephalus is the angiography picture: on the posterior surface of the base of the middle cerebral artery - a defect in filling the bone with blood, followed by a “golden shower” - the entry of air into the skull.

Diagnosis of pneumocephalus is usually based on computed tomography or MRI data. In particularly difficult cases, more accurate methods are used - angiography and myelography. In addition, a spinal puncture is performed to clarify the diagnosis. Clinical manifestations of pneumocephalus are determined by the age of development of the process, the size of the dura mater defect, the volume of exudate, and the presence of additional neurological symptoms. Predisposing factors to the development of pneumocephalus are surgery, head trauma.