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PNEUMOCEPHALUS

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-increased incidence may occur in the sitting position (ex. for posterior fossa surgery)
-as the CSF is lost during the surgery, air readily enters the subarachnoid space
-CSF drainage is increased in pt with cerebral atrophy, easily replaced by air on the surface of the brain and lateral ventrilcle
-compression of the brain may occur after the closing the dura in the presence of pneumocephalus

Compression of the brain (ex. from pneumocephalus) may lead to:
-delayed awakening
-neurological impairment