[Pneumocephalus caused by failed ventricular tap: case report].

OBJECTIVE AND

IMPORTANCE

Ventricular tap is one of the most basic and important techniques to neurosurgeon. Brain tap itself usually does not cause symptomatic complication. The authors report an extremely rare complication case of pneumocephalus caused by failed ventricular tap.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: A 79-year-old woman suffered from normal pressure hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was performed two month after SAH. In the operation, ventricular taps were failed twice and third tap was successful for ventricular catheterization through the right posterior parietal burr hole. She presented left hemiparesis from three hours after the operation, and her symptom was gradually deteriorated to complete paralysis the next day. Computed tomography scan disclosed the movement of air along the tract of failed ventricular tap from subcortex to internal capsule.

CONCLUSION

Failed ventricular tap could cause severe complications. We have to try to perform ventricular tap by only one attempt.