Fatal postoperative intracranial hypotension-associated venous congestion after elective laminectomy

Postoperative intracranial hypotension-associated venous congestion is a rare complication that features radiologic characteristics suggestive of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy without systemic hypoxia or hypotension actually occurring. This makes the condition prone to being misidentified as a complication of anaesthesia. In this case, a patient undergoing emergency haematoma evacuation after a previous lumbar laminectomy lost cerebrospinal fluid rapidly and accidentally via a wound drain. She subsequently developed postoperative seizures and eventually died some days later having never regained consciousness. A magnetic resonance imaging scan acquired after the event showed signs initially thought to be indicative of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy but was later identified to be postoperative intracranial hypotension-associated venous congestion due to temporary obstruction of the great cerebral vein, resulting in local rather than systemic hypoxia. Anaesthetists should be aware of this rare condition and be familiar with its pathophysiology and presentation.