Sir,
Postoperative hematoma distant from the primary surgical site is a rare entity, with
a reported incidence of 0.8-1.3%.[1
2] These have been reported to occur both ipsilaterally and contralaterally in the
supratentorial compartments.[3
4] However, occurrence of hematoma across the tentorium has been sparingly reported,
with just nine cases reported in the literature.[5
6
7] However, we have not come across any case in the English language wherein there
was development of extradural hematoma on one side and subdural hygroma on the contralateral
side following primary decompression of the posterior fossa tumor. Development of
EDH on an intact side as compared to the side where a burr hole was made for placement
of reservoir stimulates us to ponder over the possible inciting factor.
A 13-year-female child was brought with complaints of visual disturbances for 10 months,
gait swaying for 3 months, and headache and vomiting for 2 months duration. Neurological
examination revealed a conscious child with preserved higher mental functions. Vision
acuity was perception of hand movements at 1 m. Fundus examination showed bilateral
florid papilledema. Gait was ataxic. MRI brain showed a well-defined lesion of size
6 × 6 × 5.5 cm in the midline fourth ventricle with solid-cystic components extending
into brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncle with hydrocephalus. The lesion was heterogeneously
hyperintense on T1W, T2W, and FLAIR images. On gadolinium contrast T1W imaging, the
lesion was enhancing heterogeneously. There was gross dilatation of the lateral and
third ventricle with periventricular lucencies suggestive of raised ICP [Figure 1].
Our provisional diagnosis was pilocytic astrocytoma. With the patient in the prone
position, and head fixed in the Mayfield head clamp with pediatric pins, a suboccipital
craniectomy was performed. Following craniectomy, the dura was very tense, and hence,
a burr hole at Frazier's point on the left side was made for placing an Ommaya reservoir.
Guarded aspiration of CSF was done. Following drainage of approximately 30 cc of CSF,
the posterior fossa dura was lax. The tumor was approached through the telo-velar
approach. A near total excision of the lesion was performed and the CSF pathway was
restored by confirming free flow of CSF from aqueduct. Because of poor respiratory
efforts, the patient could not be weaned off the ventilator. As a precautionary measure,
we connected the reservoir to drain CSF at a pressure more than 12 cm of H2O. In approximately
3 h after surgery, 50 mL of CSF was drained. There was no improvement in the sensorium
and hence a CT scan of brain was performed which showed a large extradural hematoma
in the right parietal region measuring 5 × 5 × 4 cm with compression of the ipsilateral
lateral ventricles, midline shift of the brain parenchyma, and subdural hygroma in
the contralateral side with catheter in the left ventricle [Figure 2]. Penetrations
of the pin into the calvarium and coagulation abnormalities were considered to be
the possible causative factors and were actively sought after. The coagulation factors
were all within the normal limits (bleeding time/clotting time/prothrombin time/activated
partial thromboplastin time). There were no pin marks even on the outer table. No
obvious bleeding source was found following evacuation of extradural hematoma, which
was controlled by placement of dural hitch stitches. The patient improved in sensorium
in the immediate postoperative period to E3 M4 Vt with left hemiparesis. She, however,
could not be weaned off the ventilator and succumbed to respiratory failure on postoperative
day 4.
Development of extradural hematoma is a known complication due to stripping of dura
from the bone following craniotomy, as is constant bleeding from the marrow breached
by pins of the clamps.[1
6] Occurrence at a place distant to the operative site is quite puzzling, especially
on the side contralateral to the placement of a burr hole and reservoir placement.
Figure 1
MRI brain (axial) sections T1W (a), T2W (b), and FLAIR (c) showed a well-defined heterogeneously
hyperintense lesion in the midline fourth ventricle with solid-cystic components extending
into brainstem and middle cerebellar peduncle. On gadolinium contrast T1W imaging
(d-f), the lesion was enhancing heterogeneously. There was gross dilatation of the
lateral and third ventricles with periventricular lucencies suggestive of raised ICP
Figure 2
CT scan brain axial and sagittal (reformatted) images showing a large extradural hematoma
in the right parietal region with compression of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle,
midline shift of the brain parenchyma. Subdural hygroma is noted on the left side
Causative factors described for development of hematomas following craniotomies are:
Coagulopathy[8
9]
Venous rupture following snapping of subdural/extradural bridging veins, especially
in the sitting position[5
10]
Breach of the inner cortex by the pins of head clamp[1
3
5]
Failure to place adequate dural hitches[1
10]
Intraoperative hemodynamic changes.[11]
Tsugane et al., reported five cases of extradural hematoma following posterior fossa
exploration, wherein they hypothesized sudden lowering of ventricular pressure as
the inciting factor.[1] Another well-known documented cause is the pin site EDH, caused
by penetration of pins of the head fixation clamps.[5
10] However, we had used pediatric pins of the Mayfield three pin rigid fixation clamps.
Moreover, there was no breach of the calvarium.
Sudden lowering of intracranial pressure following CSF drainage causes stretch on
the bridging veins. Snapping the veins may cause development of extradural/subdural
hematoma.[4
12] However, it is not clear as to what mechanisms favor a hematoma on one side and
hygroma contralaterally. A possible explanation/hypothesis that can be thought off
is that following tumor excision and restoration of CSF flow, negative pressure was
created on either side supratentorially. On the right side, this negative pressure
might have caused stripping of dura with consequent formation of extradural hematoma.
While on the left side, the shrinkage might have caused peri-tubal seepage of CSF
into the subdural space, leading to hygroma. Nonrecovery following a brainstem surgery
could be attributed to surgical insult, and supratentorial EDH might have added to
the poor outcome. Postoperative hematomas in extra-axial locations are well-known
dreaded complications and can happen even across the tentorium.