Pneumocephalus and pneumococcal meningitis after thoracic surgery

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2011 Oct;19(5):346-8. doi: 10.1177/0218492311407796.

Abstract

A 62-year-old man with adenocarcinoma underwent complete resection with a right upper lobectomy and en-bloc resection of the chest wall, with metallic clips applied to the vertebral nerve roots. A sudden deterioration in neurological status occurred due to pneumocephalus and ascending bacterial meningitis resulting from a subarachnoid-pleural fistula. The neurological status normalized after thoracoplasty and ceftriaxone treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brain Diseases / diagnosis
  • Brain Diseases / etiology*
  • Brain Diseases / surgery
  • Ceftriaxone / therapeutic use
  • Fistula / diagnosis
  • Fistula / etiology*
  • Fistula / surgery
  • Humans
  • Iatrogenic Disease*
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Male
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / diagnosis
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / etiology*
  • Meningitis, Pneumococcal / therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnosis
  • Pleural Diseases / etiology*
  • Pleural Diseases / therapy
  • Pneumocephalus / diagnosis
  • Pneumocephalus / etiology*
  • Pneumocephalus / therapy
  • Pneumonectomy / adverse effects*
  • Reoperation
  • Respiratory Tract Fistula / diagnosis
  • Respiratory Tract Fistula / etiology*
  • Respiratory Tract Fistula / therapy
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification
  • Subarachnoid Space
  • Thoracoplasty
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Ceftriaxone