Immediate postoperative death due to hypothalamic injury following surgery for craniopharyngioma.

Autonomic disturbances due to hypothalamic injury that result in postoperative death are rare complications following surgery for craniopharyngioma. We discuss the case of a child who died due to hypothalamic injury following radical excision of a multi-compartmental craniopharyngioma. Mechanisms and clinical manifestations of hypothalamic injury and ways to avoid this fatal complication are discussed.