[Early pressure in pneumocephalus: an perioperative complication in neuroanesthesia]

We report two cases of early-onset pressure pneumocephalus, one occurring during supratentorial brain surgery (craniopharyngioma) which was diagnosed at the end of the anesthetic period upon appearance of comatose status leading to the suspicion of surgical complication in the form of a hematoma. The second case of pneumocephalus was detected after posterior fossa surgery performed with the patient in the sitting position. We review the significance of our anesthetic management on the prevention of tension pneumocephalus, and discuss diagnostic and therapeutic measures available for use in the Postoperative Intensive Care Recovery Unit.