Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

ACC : Acute and Critical Care

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search

Search

Page Path
HOME > Search
3 "positive-pressure respiration"
Filter
Filter
Article category
Keywords
Publication year
Authors
Case Report
Neurosurgery
What should an intensivist know about pneumocephalus and tension pneumocephalus?
Bhushan Sudhakar Wankhade, Maged Mohsen Kamel Beniamein, Zeyad Faoor Alrais, Jyoti Ittoop Mathew, Ghaya Zeyad Alrais
Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(2):244-248.   Published online April 13, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.01102
  • 12,257 View
  • 334 Download
  • 4 Web of Science
  • 5 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Collection of air in the cranial cavity is called pneumocephalus. Although simple pneumocephalus is a benign condition, accompanying increased intracranial pressure can produce a life-threatening condition comparable to tension pneumothorax, which is termed tension pneumocephalus. We report a case of tension pneumocephalus after drainage of a cerebrospinal fluid hygroma. The tension pneumocephalus was treated with decompression craniotomy, but the patient later died due to the complications related to critical care. Traumatic brain injury and neurosurgical intervention are the most common causes of pneumocephalus. Pneumocephalus and tension pneumocephalus are neurosurgical emergencies, and anesthetics and intensive care management like the use of nitrous oxide during anesthesia and positive pressure ventilation have important implications in their development and progress. Clinically, patients can present with various nonspecific neurological manifestations that are indistinguishable from a those of a primary neurological condition. If the diagnosis is questionable, patients should be investigated using computed tomography of the brain. Immediate neurosurgical consultation with decompression is the treatment of choice.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Sudden-onset, non-traumatic large volume pneumocephalus following presentation of acute bacterial meningitis
    Alexandra Krez, Michael Malinzak, Colby Feeney
    BMJ Case Reports.2024; 17(1): e256194.     CrossRef
  • Pneumocephalus; a rare cause of coma
    Elisavet Simoulidou, Vivian Georgopoulou, Panagiotis Kalmoukos, Dimitrios Kouroupis, Nikoleta Moscha, Maria Sidiropoulou, Sofia Chatzimichailidou, Konstantinos Petidis, Athina Pyrpasopoulou
    The American Journal of Emergency Medicine.2023; 68: 215.e1.     CrossRef
  • Pneumocephalus secondary to epidural analgesia: a case report
    Maira Ahmad, Shannay Bellamy, William Ott, Rany Mekhail
    Journal of Medical Case Reports.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Transnasal Endoscopic Treatment of Tension Pneumocephalus Caused by Posttraumatic or Iatrogenic Ethmoidal Damage
    Goran Latif Omer, Riccardo Maurizi, Beatrice Francavilla, Kareem Rekawt Hama Rashid, Gianluca Velletrani, Hasan Mustafa Salah, Giulia Marzocchella, Mohammed Ibrahim Mohialdeen Gubari, Stefano Di Girolamo, Rong-San Jiang
    Case Reports in Otolaryngology.2023; 2023: 1.     CrossRef
  • Tension pneumocephalus as a complication of surgical evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma: case report and literature review
    Mohammed A. Azab, Ahmed Hazem, Brandon Lucke-Wold
    Exploration of Neuroprotective Therapy.2023; 3(4): 177.     CrossRef
Original Article
Pulmonary
Evaluation of Respiratory Dynamics in an Asymmetric Lung Compliance Model
So Hui Yun, Ho-Jin Lee, Yong-Hun Lee, Jong Cook Park
Korean J Crit Care Med. 2017;32(2):174-181.   Published online April 14, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2016.00738
  • 6,491 View
  • 95 Download
  • 2 Web of Science
  • 2 Crossref
AbstractAbstract PDF
Background
Unilateral lung hyperinflation develops in lungs with asymmetric compliance, which can lead to vital instability. The aim of this study was to investigate the respiratory dynamics and the effect of airway diameter on the distribution of tidal volume during mechanical ventilation in a lung model with asymmetric compliance.
Methods
Three groups of lung models were designed to simulate lungs with a symmetric and asymmetric compliance. The lung model was composed of two test lungs, lung1 and lung2. The static compliance of lung1 in C15, C60, and C120 groups was manipulated to be 15, 60, and 120 mL/cmH2O, respectively. Meanwhile, the static compliance of lung2 was fixed at 60 mL/cmH2O. Respiratory variables were measured above (proximal measurement) and below (distal measurement) the model trachea. The lung model was mechanically ventilated, and the airway internal diameter (ID) was changed from 3 to 8 mm in 1-mm increments.
Results
The mean ± standard deviation ratio of volumes distributed to each lung (VL1/VL2) in airway ID 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 were in order, 0.10 ± 0.05, 0.11 ± 0.03, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, 0.12 ± 0.02, and 0.12 ± 0.02 in the C15 group; 1.05 ± 0.16, 1.01 ± 0.09, 1.00 ± 0.07, 0.97 ± 0.09, 0.96 ± 0.06, and 0.97 ± 0.08 in the C60 group; and 1.46 ± 0.18, 3.06 ± 0.41, 3.72 ± 0.37, 3.78 ± 0.47, 3.77 ± 0.45, and 3.78 ± 0.60 in the C120 group. The positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of lung1 was significantly increased at airway ID 3 mm (1.65 cmH2O) in the C15 group; at ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.21, 1.06, 0.95 cmH2O) in the C60 group; and ID 3, 4, and 5 mm (2.92, 1.84, 1.41 cmH2O) in the C120 group, compared to ID 8 mm (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
In the C15 and C120 groups, the tidal volume was unevenly distributed to both lungs in a positive relationship with lung compliance. In the C120 group, the uneven distribution of tidal volume was improved when the airway ID was equal to or less than 4 mm, but a significant increase of PEEP was observed.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Proof-of-concept study of compartmentalized lung ventilation using system for asymmetric flow regulation (SAFR)
    Igor Barjaktarevic, Glen Meyerowitz, Onike Williams, I. Obi Emeruwa, Nir Hoftman
    Frontiers in Medical Technology.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Is It Essential to Consider Respiratory Dynamics?
    Youngjoon Kang
    The Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2017; 32(2): 223.     CrossRef
Case Report
A Case of Severe Acute Exacerbation of Bronchial Asthma Treated with Low Minute Ventilation: A Case Report
Young Joo Han, Dong In Suh, Young Seung Lee, June Dong Park
Korean J Crit Care Med. 2010;25(4):257-262.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2010.25.4.257
  • 3,647 View
  • 148 Download
AbstractAbstract PDF
We report a case of severe status asthmaticus in a 3-year-old boy who required mechanical ventilatory support. He initially presented with rapidly progressing respiratory distress and spontaneous air leaks. Although he was intubated and received mechanical ventilation, dynamic hyperinflation and air leaks were aggravated. We applied the volume control mode, providing sufficient tidal volume (10 ml/kg), a reduced respiratory rate (25/minute), and a prolonged expiratory time (1.8 seconds) to overcome dynamic hyperinflation. After allowing full expiration of trapped air, his over-expanded lung volumes were decreased and the air leaks resolved. He made a complete recovery without sequelae. Dynamic hyperinflation in asthmatic patients occurs from incomplete exhalation throughout narrowed airways. Controlled hypoventilation or permissive hypercapnia is an important lung-protective ventilator strategy and is beneficial in reducing dynamic hyperinflation. We suggest a controlled hypoventilation strategy with a prolonged expiratory time for patients in severe status asthmaticus with dynamic hyperinflation.

ACC : Acute and Critical Care