Tension pneumocephalus following ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report

A case of tension pneumocephalus following suboccipital craniectomy and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery for obstructive hydrocephalus due to the presence of a cerebellopontine (CP) angle tumor is reported. The air entries were found on both sides of the frontal skull base. The formation of the fistula may have been either due to congenital bony defects or chronically elevated intracranial pressure. Iopamidol computed tomographic (CT) cisternogram was one of the diagnostic tools. Direct surgical repair of those bony-dural defects was mandatory in the prevention of the recurrence of the pneumocephalus.