Delayed pneumocephalus in shunted patients. Report of three cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Delayed pneumocephalus is a very rare complication of CSF shunt systems with only 37 cases so far reported. We report three additional cases with different mechanisms of production, clinical presentations and managements. While the first patient was treated with closure of the site of air entrance and shunt externalization, in the second case, modification of the shunt was enough to solve the pneumocephalus, even when a skull base fistula was suspected. The third one died during treatment from complications. The literature is reviewed with respect to the aetiology, clinical presentation, radiological findings and management of this problem.