Pneumocephalus and Exophthalmos Secondary To Acute Sinusitis and Nasopharyngeal Oxygen Catheter

Abstract

Pneumocephalus is a well-known complication of skull trauma, certain neurosurgical procedures, and sinus neoplasms.1,2 The association between pneumocephalus and infection is very rare, usually occurring in patients with mastoiditis, chronic otitis media, and sinusitis.1,3 In a recent report, pneumocephalus and exophthalmos developed secondary to administration of oxygen by a nasopharyngeal catheter in a patient without sinusitis.4 We describe an infant admitted for treatment of bacterial pneumonia and maxillary and ethmoid sinusitis, in whom pneumocephalus and right-sided severe exophthlalmos developed while the patient was receiving oxygen by a nasopharyngeal catheter.