Summary
In an attempt to define the tissue of origin of substances causing aseptic meningitis and secondary hydrocephalus after posterior fossa surgery, analysis of several marker substances from blood, brain, tumour and muscle in the CSF was performed early in seven postoperative patients. No clear pattern emerged which could relate the substances, CSF reaction, and meningeal scarring. The effects of various factors such as contrast studies, drainage, and steroids were also not clear.
Review of the literature reveals that all four tissues can cause inflammation. Certain facts about the anatomy of the basilar cisterns and arachnoid villi probably make them logical sites for problems in CSF circulation. Children, for several reasons, are most susceptible to this complication. The complexity of factors in human cases suggests that the problem should be studied in an animal model.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carmel, P. W., Fraser, R. A. R., Stein, B. M., Aseptic meningitis following posterior fossa surgery in children. J. Neurosurg.41 (1974), 44–48.
Stehbens, W. E., Pathology of the Cerebral Blood Vessels, pp. 252–283. St. Louis: Mosby. 1972.
Meredith, J. M., The inefficiency of lumbar puncture for the removal of red blood cells from the cerebrospinal fluid. Surgery9 (1941), 524–533.
Sprong, W., The disappearance of blood from the cerebrospinal fluid in traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet.58 (1934), 705–710.
Tourtellotte, H. W., Metz, L. N., Bryan, E. R.,et al., Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurology14 (1964), 301–306.
McMenemy, W. H., The significance of subarachnoid bleeding. Proc. R. Soc. Med.47 (1954), 701–704.
Barrows, L. J., Hunter, F. T., Banker, B. O., The nature and clinical significance of pigments in the cerebrospinal fluid. Brain78 (1955), 59–80.
Matthews, W. F., Frommeyer, W. B., jr., The in vitro behavior of erythrocytes in human cerebrospinal fluid. J. Lab. Clin. Med.45 (1955), 508–515.
Roost, K. T., Pimstone, N. R., Diamond, T.,et al., The formation of cerebrospinal fluid xanthochromia after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neurology22 (1972), 973–977.
Adams, J. E., Prawirohardjo, S., Fate of red blood cells injected into cerebrospinal fluid pathways. Neurology9 (1959), 561–564.
Dupont, J. R., Van Wart, C. A., Kraintz, L., The clearance of major components of whole blood from cerebrospinal fluid following simulated subarachnoid hemorrhage. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol.20 (1961), 450–455.
McQueen, J. D., Northrup, B. E., Leibruck, L. G., Arachnoid clearance of red blood cells. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry37 (1974), 1316–1321.
Arutiunov, A. I., Baron, M. A., Majorova, N. A., The role of mechanical factors in the pathogenesis of short-term and prolonged spasm of the cerebral arteries. J. Neurosurg.40 (1974), 459–472.
Peters, A., Palay, S. L., Webster, Hde. E., The Fine Structure of the Nervous System. The Neurons and Supporting Cells. Ch. XIII. The Meninges, pp. 332–343. Philadelphia: Saunders. 1976.
YaŞargil, M. G., Kasdaglis, K., Jain, K. K.,et al., Anatomical observations of the subarachnoid cisterns of the brain during surgery. J. Neurosurg.44 (1976), 298–302.
Finlayson, A. I., Penfield, W., Acute postoperative aseptic leptomeningitis. AMA Arch. Neurol. Psych.46 (1941), 250–276.
Jackson, I. J., Aseptic hemogenic meningitis. AMA Arch. Neurol. Psych.62 (1949), 572–589.
Dyken, P. R., Cerebrospinal fluid cytology: practical clinical usefulness. Neurology25 (1975), 210–217.
Oehmichen, M., Cerebrospinal Fluid Cytology. An Introduction and Atlas. Philadelphia: Saunders. 1976.
Bagley, C., Blood in the cerebrospinal fluid. Resultant Functional and Organic Alterations in the Central Nervous System. B. Clinical Data. Arch. Surg.17 (1928), 39–81.
Hammes, E. M., jr., Reaction of the meninges to blood. AMA Arch. Neurol. Psychiat.52 (1944), 505–514.
Penning, L., Front, D., Brain Scintigraphy. A Neuroradiological Approach. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica. 1975.
Bagley, C., Blood in the cerebrospinal fluid. Resultant functional and organic alterations in the central nervous system. A. Experimental data. Arch. Surg.17 (1928), 18–38.
Browder, J., Kaplan, H. A., Cerebral Dural Sinuses and Their Tributaries. Ch. 5. Lateral Lacunae, pp. 57–68. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1976.
Tripathi, B. J., Tripathi, R. C., Vacuolar transcellular channels as a drainage pathway for cerebrospinal fluid. J. Physiol.239 (1974), 195–206.
James, A. E., jr., McComb, J. G., Christian, J.,et al., The effect of cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the size of drainage pathways. Neurology26 (1976), 659–663.
Welch, K., The principles of physiology of the cerebrospinal fluid in relation to hydrocephalus including normal pressure hydrocephalus. In Friedlander, W. J. (ed.): Advances in Neurology, Vol. 13, pp. 247–332. New York: Raven. 1975.
Ellington, E., Margolis, G., Block of arachnoid villus by subarachnoid hemorrhage. J. Neurosurg.30 (1969), 651–657.
McQueen, J. D., Northrup, B. E., Leibroch, L. G.,et al., The sealing action of subarachnoid blood. Acta Neurol. Lat. Am.17 Suppl. (1972), 89–98.
Alksne, J. F., Lovings, E. T., The role of the arachnoid villus in the removal of red blood cells from the subarachnoid space. An electron microscope study in the dog. J. Neurosurg.36 (1972), 192–200.
Kurokawa, K., Dunsker, S., Mayfield, F. H., Spinal dural patch grafts in experimental animals. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry38 (1975), 412.
Kagan, L. J., Myoglobin: Biochemical, Physiological, and Clinical Aspects. New York: Columbia. 1973.
Woods, A. H., Personal communication.
Bernat, J. L., Glioblastoma multiforme and the meningial syndrome. Neurology26 (1976), 1071–1074.
Shabo, A. L., Abbott, M. M., Maxwell, D. S., The response of the arachnoid villus to an intracisternal injection of autogenous brain tissue. An electron microscopic study in the macaque monkey. Neurology19 (1969), 724–734.
Greenblatt, S. H., Cerebrospinal fluid creatine phosphokinase in acute subarachnoid hemorrhage. J. Neurosurg.44 (1976), 50–54.
Hershkowitz, N., Cumings, J. N., Creatine kinase in cerebrospinal fluid. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry27 (1964), 247–250.
Sherwin, A. L., Norris, J. W., Bulcke, J. A., Spinal fluid creatine kinase in neurologic disease. Neurology19 (1969), 993–999.
Somer, H., Kaste, M., Troupp, H.,et al., Brain creatine kinase in blood after acute brain injury. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry38 (1975), 572–576.
Kaste, M., Somer, H., Konttinen, A., Brain-type creatine kinase isoenzyme. Occurrence in serum in acute cerebral disorders. Arch. Neurol.34 (1977), 142–144.
Wolintz, A. H., Jacobs, L. D., Christoff, N.,et al., Serum and cerebrospinal fluid enzymes in cerebrovascular disease. Creatine phosphokinase, aldolase, and lactic dehydrogenase. Arch. Neurol.20 (1969), 54–61.
Cushing, H., Experiences with the cerebellar medulloblastomas. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand.7 (1930), 1–86.
Cushing, H., Experiences with the cerebellar astrocytomas. Surg. Gynecol. Obstet.52 (1931), 129–204.
Cushing, H., Bailey, P., Tumors Arising from the Blood Vessels of the Brain. Angiomatous Malformations and Hemangioblastomas. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1928.
Jacobs, G. B., Klemme, W. M., Murphree, H. C., Aseptic meningitis and pseudomeningocoel formation as a complication of surgery in the posterior fossa. Pac. Med. Surg.74 (1955), 320–324.
Matson, D. D., Neurosurgery of Infancy and Childhood. 2nd Ed. p. 435. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1969.
McLaurin, R. L., Ford, L. E., Obstruction following posterior fossa surgery: the postoperative Dandy Walker syndrome. Johns Hopkins Med. J.122 (1968), 309–318.
Scatliff, J. H., Kummes, A. J., Frankel, S. A.,et al., Cystic enlargement and obstruction of the fourth ventricle following posterior fossa surgery. The postoperative Dandy Walker syndrome. Amer. J. Roentgenol. Radium Ther. Nucl. Med.88 (1962), 536–542.
Stein, B. M., Tenner, M. S., Fraser, R. A. R., Hydrocephalus following removal of cerebellar astrocytomas in children. J. Neurosurg.36 (1972), 763–768.
Stein, B. M., Fraser, R. A. R., Tenner, M. S., Normal pressure hydrocephalus: Complication of posterior fossa surgery in children. Pediatrics49 (1972), 50–58.
Ojemann, R. G., Normal pressure hydrocephalus. Clin. Neurosurg.19 (1971), 337–376.
Udvarhelyi, G. B., Wood, J. H., James, A. E., jr.,et al., Results and complications in 55 shunted patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Surg. Neurol.3 (1975), 271–275.
Cronquist, S., Encephalographic changes following subarchnoid haemorrhage. Brit. J. Radiol.40 (1967), 38–42.
Hill, M. E., Lougheed, W. M., Barnett, H. J. M., A treatable form of dementia due to normal-pressure communicating hydrocephalus. Can. Med. Assoc. J.97 (1967), 1309–1320.
Kibler, R. F., Couch, R. S. C., Crompton, M. R., Hydrocephalus in the adult following spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage. Brain84 (1961), 45–60.
Askenazy, H. M., Herzberger, E. E., Wijsenbeck, H. S., Hydrocephalus with vascular malformations of the brain. A preliminary report. Neurology3 (1953), 213–220.
Barnett, H. J. M., Some clinical features of intracranial aneurysms. Clin. Neurosurg.16 (1969), 43–72.
Foltz, E. L., Ward, A. A., jr., Communicating hydrocephalus from subarachnoid bleeding. J. Neurosurg.13 (1956), 546–566.
Fox, J. L., Luessenhop, A. J., Hydrocephalus secondary to hemorrhage from a basilar artery aneurysm. With a note on embolization technique. Acta Neurochir. (Wien)17 (1967), 228–235.
Front, D., Penning, L., Angiographic assessment of ventricular enlargement in subarachnoid haemorrhage. J. Neurol. Sci.13 (1971), 1–11.
Gallera, R., Greitz, T., Hydrocephalus in the adult secondary to the rupture of intracranial arterial aneurysms. J. Neurosurg.32 (1970), 634–641.
Hayward, R. D., Intracranial arteriovenous malformations. Observations after experience with computerized tomography. J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry39 (1976), 1027–1033.
Knibestöl, M., Karadayi, A., Tovi, D., Echo-encephalographic study of ventricular dilatation after subarachnoid hemorrhage with special reference to the effect of antifibrinolytic treatment. Acta Neurol. Scand.54 (1976), 57–70.
Shulman, K., Martin, B. F., Popoff, N.,et al., Recognition and treatment of hydrocephalus following spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage. J. Neurosurg.20 (1963), 1040–1049.
Strain, R. E., Progressive communicating hydrocephalus following subarachnoid bleeding—a neurosurgical emergency. South Med. J.56 (1963), 613–618.
Sweet, W. H., Seeping intracranial aneurysm simulating neoplasm. AMA Arch. Neurol. Psych.45 (1941), 86–104.
Sypert, G. W., Leffman, H., Ojeman, G. A., Adult normal pressure hydrocephalus manifested by Parkinson-dementia complex. Neurology23 (1973), 234–238.
Theander, S., Granholm, L., Sequelae after spontaneous subarachnoid haemorrhage, with special reference to hydrocephalus and Korsakoff's syndrome Acta Neurol. Scand.43 (1967), 479–488.
Tomlinson, B. E., Brain changes in ruptured intracranial aneurysm. J. Clin. Pathol.12 (1959), 391–399.
Lewin, W., Preliminary observations on external hydrocephalus after severe head injury. Brit. J. Surg.55 (1969), 747–751.
Penfield, W., Cone, W., Elementary principles of the treatment of head injuries. Can. Med. Assoc. J.48 (1943), 99–104.
Granholm, L., Radberg, C., Congenital communicating hydrocephalus. J. Neurosurg.20 (1963), 338–343.
Guidetti, B., Giuffrè, R., Palma, L.,et al., Hydrocephalus in infancy and childhood. Our experience of CSF shunting. Child's Brain2 (1976), 209–225.
Larroche, J. C., Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus in infancy. Biol. Neonate20 (1972), 287–299.
Lorber, J., Post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Dev. Med. Child Neurol.16 (Suppl 32) (1974), 157–159.
Deonna, T., Payot, M., Probst, A.,et al., Neonatal intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants. Pediatrics56 (1975), 1056–1064.
Lourie, H., Berne, A., A contribution on the etiology and pathogenesis of congenital communicating hydrocephalus. Neurology15 (1965), 815–822.
Wise, B. L., Ballard, R., Hydrocephalus secondary to intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants. Child's Brain2 (1976), 234–241.
Goldstein, G. W., Chaplin, E. R., Maitland, J.,et al., Transient hydrocephalus in premature infants: treatment by lumbar punctures. Lancet1 (1976), 512–514.
Bradford, F. K., Sharkey, P. C., Physiologic effects from the introduction of blood and other substances into the subarchnoid space of dogs. J. Neurosurg.19 (1962), 1017–1022.
McQueen, J. D., Jelsma, L. F., Intracranial hypertension. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure rises following intracisternal infusions of blood components in dogs. Arch. Neurol.16 (1967), 501–508.
Sachs, E., jr., Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Tumours and Care of the Neurosurgical Patient, pp. 518–520. St. Louis: Mosby. 1949.
Kennady, J. C., Investigations of the early fate and removal of subarachnoid blood. Pac. Med. Surg.75 (1967), 163–168.
Greitz, T., Grepe, A., Encephalography in the diagnosis of convexity block hydrocephalus. Acta Radiol. (Diagn.)11 (1971), 232–242.
Frigeni, G., Gaini, S. M., Paoletti, P.,et al., Isotope cisternography. Consideration on abnormal pictures. Acta Neurochir. (Wien)25 (1971), 145–163.
Frigeni, G., Gaini, S. M., Paoletti, P.,et al., Study of possible postsurgical complications in neurosurgery using radioisotope cisternography. In Harbert, J. C. (ed.), Cisternography and Hydrocephalus, pp. 303–316. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1972.
Rudd, T. G., O'Neal, J. T., Nelp, W. B., Cerebrospinal fluid circulation following subarachnoid hemorrhage. J. Nucl. Med.12 (1971), 61–63.
Williams, J. P., Lynde, R. H., Pribram, H. F. W., Cisternographic changes following subarachnoid hemorrhage. In Harbert, J. C. (ed.), Cisternography and Hydrocephalus, pp. 285–291. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1972.
Cowan, R. J., Maynard, C. D., Trauma to the brain and extracranial structures. Semin. Nucl. Med.4 (1974), 319–338.
Front, D., Beks, J. W. F., Georganas, C. L.,et al., Abnormal patterns of cerebrospinal fluid flow and absorption after head injuries: Diagnosis by isotope cisternography. Neuroradiology4 (1972), 6–13.
Enzmann, D. R., Norman, D., Mani, J.,et al., Computed tomography of granulomatous basal arachnoiditis. Radiology120 (1976), 341–344.
Greitz, T., Hindmarsh, T., Computer assisted tomography of intracranial CSF circulation using a water-soluble contrast medium. Acta Radiol. (Diagn.)15 (1974), 497–507.
Hindmarsh, T., Elimination of water-soluble contrast media from the subarachnoid space. Investigation with computer tomography. Acta Radiol., Suppl.346 (1975), 45–49.
Roberson, G. H., Brismar, J., Weiss, A.,et al., CSF enhancement for computerized tomography. Surg. Neurol.6 (1976), 235–238.
Hindmarsh, T., Greitz, T., Computer cisternography in the diagnosis of communicating hydrocephalus. Acta Radiol., Suppl.346 (1975), 91–97.
Carmel, P. W., Fraser, R. A. R., Stein, B. M., Aseptic meningitis linked to brain surgery. JAMA220 (1972), 1554.
Lorber, J., Bhat, U. S., Posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and long-term results. Arch. Dis. Child49 (1974), 751–762.
Harbert, J. C., Radionuclide cisternography. Semin. Nucl. Med.1 (1971), 90–106.
Tyson, J. E., Gilmartin, R. C., jr., Friedman, B. I.,et al., 131I HAS cisternography in children with meningitis. In Harbert, J. C. (ed.): Cisternography in Hydrocephalus, pp. 413–432. Springfield, Ill.: Ch. C Thomas. 1972.
Turner, L., Structure of arachnoid granulations with observations on their physiological and pathological significance. Ann. R. Coll. Surg. Eng.29 (1961), 237–264.
Clark, W. E. Le G., On the Pacchionian bodies. J. Anat.55 (1920), 40–48.
Gilles, F. H., Davidson, R. I., Communicating hydrocephalus associated with deficient dysplastic parasagittal arachnoidal granulations. J. Neurosurg.35 (1971), 421–426.
Madden, J. W., Personal communication.
GyllenswÄrd, A., Malmstrom, S., The cerebrospinal fluid in immature infants. Acta Paediatr. Scand.51 (Suppl. 135) (1962), 54–62.
Naidoo, B. T., The cerebrospinal fluid in the healthy newborn infant. S. Afr. Med. J.42 (1968), 933–935.
Wolf, H., Hoepffner, L., The cerebrospinal fluid in the newborn and premature infant. World Neurology28 (1961), 871–877.
Howland, W. J., Curry, J. L., Pantopaque arachnoiditis. Experimental study of blood as a potentiating agent and corticosteroids as an ameliorating agent. Acta Radiol. (Diagn.), Suppl.5 (1966), 1032–1041.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaufman, H.H., Carmel, P.W. Aseptic meningitis and hydrocephalus after posterior fossa surgery. Acta neurochir 44, 179–196 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402060
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01402060