Acute Management of Tension Pneumocephalus in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Tension pneumocephalus is a rare but life-threatening condition in which air gains entry into the cranium and exerts mass effect on the brain, resulting in increased intracranial pressure. It occurs most frequently secondary to head trauma, particularly to the orbits or sinuses.

Case report: A 13-year-old male sustained facial trauma from a motor vehicle collision and was found to have tension pneumocephalus on computer tomography. The patient underwent immediate rapid sequence intubation without preceding positive pressure ventilation in the emergency department. At the time of his craniotomy, the tension pneumocephalus was found to have resolved and he went on to have a complete recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Any patient with facial or head trauma and pneumocephalus is at risk for the potential development of tension pneumocephalus. When present, we advocate that aggressive definitive airway management by rapid sequence intubation without preceding positive pressure ventilation and early surgical management should be prioritized.

Keywords: head trauma; pneumocephalus; tension pneumocephalus.