Management of the giant occipital encephaloceles in the neonates

Abstract

• Lateral position is considered to be safer than the supine position for endotracheal intubation during surgery, because the weight of the head is not transmitted to the sac; this eliminates the risk of compression-related preoperative rupture of the sac, or an inadvertent incresae in the intracranial pressure . • Intraoperative blood and CSF loss, hypothermia, bradycardia and cardiac arrest are most important problems for surgery of giant occipital encephalocele . • The size of the encephalocele and the amount of neural tissue found in the sac correlates with the prognosis. • Neurological outcome depends upon the presence or absence of hydrocephaly , while intelligence level is mainly related to the absence of brain tissue into the sac. • Careful planned and early meticulous surgery results in a satisfactory outcome.