Minim Invasive Neurosurg 2000; 43(3): 135-137
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-12274
ORIGINAL PAPER
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Traumatic Subependymal Hematoma During Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in a Patient with a Third Ventricle Tumor: Case Report

C. Schönauer1 , A. Bellotti2 , E. Tessitore1 , C. Parlato1 , A. Moraci1
  • 1 Department of Neurosurgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
  • 2 Department of Neuroscience, Caserta Hospital, Caserta, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become a routine intervention for the treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus. This technique is largely considered safe and a very low incidence of complications is reported. However, hemorrhage in the course of neuroendoscopy is still a problem difficult to manage. The authors present a case in which endoscopic third ventriculostomy and tumor biopsy were performed in a young patient with a huge tumor growing in the posterior part of the third ventricle. The surgical approach to realize the stoma was difficult because the tumor size reduced the third ventricle diameter. Surgical manipulation produced a traumatic subependymal hematoma. This hematoma drained spontaneously after few minutes into the ventricle and the blood was washed away. The postoperative neurological course was uneventful and the ventriculostomy showed to work well by reducing the size of the lateral ventricles and the intracranial pressure in three days. This complication during endoscopic third ventriculostomy has never been reported before. We emphasize the difficulty of endoscopic procedures in patients with huge tumors in the third ventricle. Where reduction in size of the third ventricle and of the foramen of Monro ist present we suggest a careful approach to the third ventricle.

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Corresponding Author

C Schönauer, M.D 

Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 23

80122 Napoli
Italy

Phone: Phone:+39081667896

Fax: Fax:+390817415228

Email: E-mail:cschona@libero.it