Diffuse Cerebral Vasospasm after Resection of a Posterior Fossa Ependymoma

Abstract

Background: Diffuse cerebral vasospasm is a frequently observed complication following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage or after severe traumatic head injury. In the last several years, there have been an increasing number of cases of symptomatic cerebral vasospasm following intracranial tumor resection. Recognition of these cases is difficult because some of the manifestations may be attributed to residual postoperative swelling. The various etiologies leading to cerebral vasospasm after brain tumor surgery considered for this phenomenon have included significant intraoperative bleeding, tumor location, operative positioning, tumor pathology, vascular manipulation, release of vasoactive factors, and postoperative blood in the basal cisterns. Here we present the first case of delayed symptomatic vasospasm following resection of a posterior fossa ependymoma.