Summary of tension pneumocephalus cases after surgical evacuation of CSDH in the literature

AuthorsYearNumber of CSDH casesNumber of cases with tension pneumocephalusAgeClinical presentationDays after primary surgeryDrainManagementOutcome
Bouzarth et al. [22]19805559–80Impaired consciousness3 daysSubduralCase 1: craniotomy; case 2: subdural aspiration; case 3: catheter removal; case 4: subcutaneous aspiration; case 5: subdural suctionAll cases improved
Monajati and Cotanch [14]19826186Right arm weakness and speech difficulty2 daysSubduralSubdural tapWeakness improved
Bremer and Nguyen [10]198219360–80Agitation and impaired consciousness2 daysN/MCase 1: emergency craniotomy; case 2: emergent catheter aspiration; case 3: suctioningCase 1: no improvement; case 2: improved; case 3: improved
Caron et al. [24]1985N/M174Impaired consciousnessN/MSubduralBurr hole drainage of the air and lumbar catheter Elliott solution infusionImproved
Kawakami et al. [25]1985N/M1N/MN/MN/MN/MClosed system drainImproved
Atluru and Kumar [26]1987N/M110 weeksMacrocephaly, diffuse hypertonia, and hyperreflexia with marked head lag1 dayN/MNeedle aspirationImproved
Ishiwata et al. [11]1988196570–86Impaired consciousness6 h–2 daysN/MBurr hole evacuationAll cases improved
Sharma et al. [4]19896356–60Drowsiness and impaired consciousness5–24 hN/MDrill craniostomy and aspirationAll cases improved
Lavano et al. [23]19907740–85Impaired consciousnessN/MN/MCase 1: aspiration of the air, spinal saline infusion; case 2: craniotomy; case 3: burr hole with catheter aspiration; case 4: craniotomy with removal of the air and a membrane; case 5: craniotomy with removal of the air and a membrane; case 6: burr hole evacuation; case 7: burr hole evacuation no improved than craniotomyAll cases improved except case 7 died due to pneumonia
Merlicco et al. [27]1995705> 70Impaired consciousness12 daysN/MN/MThree cases died, one due to a medical cause; the other 2 cases improved
Mori and Maeda [28]20015004N/MImpaired consciousnessN/MSubduralReopening the wound and burr hole evacuationAll cases improved
Cummins [29]2009N/M178Impaired consciousnessN/MSubduralCatheter aspirationImproved
Shaikh et al. [20]2010N/M170Impaired consciousness3 daysSubduralAspiration and catheter insertionImproved
Ihab [30]201250260 and 62Case 1: impaired consciousness; case 2: headacheN/MN/MConservative case 1: simple aspiration; case 2: nursing in a flat position, administration of fluids, and supplemental breathing of 100% O2Both cases improved
Mehesry et al. [31]2016N/M168Increased right arm weakness and expressive aphasiaN/MSubduralConservative managementImproved
Balevi [32]20171488N/MN/MN/MSubduralClosed subdural drainageAll cases improved
Turgut and Yay [33]2019N/M159Seizures3 daysSubcutaneousBurr hole evacuationImproved
Moscovici et al. [34]201945N/M> 90N/MN/MN/MConservative managementN/M
Dobran et al. [35]20201532N/MN/MN/MN/MBurr hole evacuationAll cases improved
Celi and Saal [36]2020N/M185Rapid neurological deterioration2 daysSubduralConservative managementDeath
Lepić et al. [37]2022N/M181HypertensionN/MSubduralEmergency irrigationNo improvement and no further surgery was needed

O2: oxygen; N/M: not mentioned