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Normal pressure hydrocephalus found after anesthesia--a case report
Tzung-Chieh Tsai1, Chang-Chuan He, Su-Zhen Wu
1Department of Anesthesiology, Chia-Yi Veterans Hospital, 600th, Shi-Shien Road, Section 2, Chia-Yi City, Taiwan, R.O.C. hepatic.tw@msa.hinet.net
Acta Anaesthesiologica Sinica
|February 11, 2004
Summary
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) can present subtly, often masked by other conditions. Early recognition of its key symptoms is crucial for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurological condition characterized by gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence.
- It typically presents insidiously without signs of increased intracranial pressure, making early diagnosis challenging.
Observation:
- A 71-year-old male patient undergoing knee replacement surgery presented with mild forgetfulness.
- Post-anesthesia, the patient developed drowsiness, prompting further investigation.
- Brain computed tomography scan was instrumental in diagnosing NPH.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) after experiencing altered consciousness post-surgery.
- Treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal (V-P) shunt led to the patient regaining consciousness.
Implications:
- This case highlights that NPH can remain concealed in patients presenting for unrelated medical issues.
- Physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for NPH when gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence are present.
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