Background

Microvascular decompression (MVD) has become the treatment of choice for medication-resistant hemifacial spasm (HFS), trigeminal neuralgia, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. The success rate is satisfactory; however, potential operative risks exist, especially postoperative hemorrhagic complications, including infratentorial and supratentorial hematomas, have been reported in the previous literatures [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. Limited cases of supratentorial subdural hematoma (SDH) related to MVD have been reported in the literature [1, 2, 5, 6, 8,9,10]. Most of the cases were asymptomatic; however, some cases involved severe sequelae. The mechanism of hemorrhage at the remote site remains controversial. The time of initiation of the remote event is often unknown, whether it initiated during the intradural procedure or after dural closure. If this time of initiation of the hemorrhage is known, coupled with a sign that a hemorrhage should be suspected, appropriate preventive measures and possible intervention can be planned. No detailed guides are available that can predict the time of initiation of hemorrhage so far. We report a case of supratentorial SDH following MVD, which presented as welling-up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during the intracranial procedure, possibly indicating remote supratentorial hemorrhage.

Case presentation

A 54-year-old woman was diagnosed with left-side HFS and had been receiving botulinum toxin injections for 10 years before surgery. Preoperative magnetic resonance images (MRI) revealed the offending artery to be the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), which lies in close proximity to the area where the root of facial nerve exits the cranium (Fig. 1a). The patient underwent MVD via lateral suboccipital approach in the park-bench position, and no lumbar drainage was performed before surgery. During the dissection of cerebellomedullary cistern, abnormal amount of CSF welled up in the cistern. Accumulated CSF was removed using a suction tube for approximately 30 s (Fig. 2; Supplement video). Depth of general anesthesia was adequately maintained, and no coughing was observed. No hemorrhage was confirmed during surgery. PICA, the offending artery, was translocated to the petrosal bone and fixed with fibrin glue. The patient recovered from anesthesia normally without any neurological deficit. However, a small supratentorial SDH was found on the right side (contralateral) on immediate postoperative computed tomography (CT) scan (Fig. 1b). Since the SDH was asymptomatic, we decided to monitor the patient by follow-up CT scans. Any increase in the size of hematoma was not evident after surgery. During the follow-up period, she was relieved of HFS.

Fig. 1
figure 1

a Preoperative magnetic resonance images. Arrow indicates the posterior inferior cerebellar artery adjacent to the zone of exit of the root of facial nerve. b Postoperative computed tomography scans showing unilateral supratentorial subdural hematomas (arrow)

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Fig. 2
figure 2

Cerebrospinal fluid accumulation in the left cerebellopontine cistern during the surgery. a The photo before accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. b After accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. See the supplement video which is viewed stereoscopically

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Additional file 1: Supplement video. Cerebrospinal fluid welling-up in the left cerebellopontine cistern during the surgery. The video is viewed stereoscopically.

Discussion

We experienced a case of remote operative site supratentorial SDH following MVD. The patient was asymptomatic and was relieved of HFS during the follow-up period. Hemorrhagic complications following posterior fossa surgery have been described in several reports. These reports were mainly described in terms of surgical position, primary disease, and the site of hemorrhage. Surgery in a sitting position has been commonly associated with hemorrhagic complications after posterior fossa surgery.

There have been increasing cases of hemorrhagic complications after MVD in the recent years. Table 1 demonstrates previously reported cases of supratentorial SDH [1, 2, 6, 8,9,10]. Although most patients recovered without any deficits, unfavorable outcomes including mild facial numbness, gait disturbances [10], Gerstmann’s syndrome, and epilepsy have also been reported [9]. The cause of this rare but serious complication should be known so that adequate preventive measures and accurate treatment protocols can be instituted.

Table 1 Reports of supratentorial subdural hematoma following microvascular decompression
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Remote intracranial hemorrhage in the posterior fossa can also occur during supratentorial craniotomies. The reported incidence of remote cerebellar hemorrhage ranges from 0.04 to 0.8% [11]. The classic presentation of remote cerebellar hemorrhage on CT scans is intracerebellar and/or subarachnoid hemorrhage in the sulci of one or both cerebellar hemispheres and/or vermis on the superior aspect of the cerebellum [12]. The most common pattern of bleeding in remote cerebellar hemorrhage is subarachnoid bleeding along the cerebellar folia, which is rightly referred to as the “zebra sign” because of alternating dark and white patterns of blood and edema, respectively [13]. The underlying mechanism is still controversial; however, intraoperative CSF loss and stretching of the bridging veins are being considered as possible causes underlying this mechanism [11]. Preoperative antiplatelet agents and moderately elevated intraoperative systolic blood pressure are potentially modifiable risk factors associated with the development of remote cerebellar hemorrhage [14].

For a relatively rare phenomenon, the mechanism of remote SDH following posterior fossa surgery is still controversial. Two principal possible mechanisms have been suggested. The first one suggests that excessive rapid removal of CSF from the posterior fossa could cause distortion of the supratentorial structures with laceration of the bridging veins, thereby inducing SDH [1]. The second mechanism was suggested by Li et al. in reports of three cases of delayed supratentorial SDH following MVD [5]. They suggested that the excessive rotation and flexion of the neck in the lateral decubitus position might obstruct jugular venous drainage on the contralateral side, resulting in venous hemorrhagic infraction in the supratentorial regions.

No detailed guides regarding the time of initiation of hemorrhage have been reported in previous studies. Nozaki et al. believed that hemorrhage could occur towards the end of the surgery. He hypothesized that during a change of position from lateral to supine, bilateral bridging veins being extended equally, the low intracranial pressure and/or intracranial air caused brain sagging and subsequently induced supratentorial SDH [8]. Intraoperative CSF welling-up has not been indicated as a sign of intraoperative supratentorial hemorrhage during the lateral suboccipital approach. The unexpected welling-up of the CSF might be induced by the small amount subdural hemorrhage. Subsequently, supratentorial ventricular CSF might flow out of the foramen of Luschka and Magendie. We advocate that this phenomenon might be related to remote supratentorial hemorrhage during the procedures. An immediate CT scan survey is recommended after surgery.

The current report has a limitation. A single case of abnormal rapid CSF accumulation in the cerebellomedullary cistern during surgery has been reported. Remote SDH was detected on postoperative CT scans in the previous reports. Intraoperative CT or MRI can provide direct evidence of the time of initiation of hemorrhage.

Conclusion

Most of the cases with remote supratentorial SDH achieved good outcomes; however, some of the cases have the possibility of encountering devastating results. To prevent this rare complication, previous studies have suggested that excessive CSF drainage should be avoided and that CSF loss should be compensated with sufficient amounts of artificial CSF immediately before dural closure. However, SDH at a remote operative site can occur even if the surgery was performed uneventfully. The phenomenon of abnormal CSF accumulation in the cerebellomedullary cistern should be considered a sign to suspect unexpected supratentorial hemorrhage, even if transient. An immediate postoperative CT scan is also recommended to detect the supratentorial hemorrhage in the patients who might need critical care and appropriate interventions.