Tension pneumocephalus: a life-threatening complication of septoplasty and septorhinoplasty.

UNLABELLED: PROBLEMS/

OBJECTIVES

Septoplasty and septorhinoplasty are two important surgical operations in otorhinolaryngology. Tension pneumocephalus is a rare, but potentially fatal, intracranial complication of these operations.

METHODOLOGY: We present two cases of tension pneumocephalus following nasal surgery. Both patients had tension pneumocephalus, meningitis, and defects in the skull base.

RESULTS

One patient underwent endoscopic repair of the defect, while the second case expired despite medical and neurosurgical management.