TITLE:
Giant Thoracic Meningocele Causing Acute Respiratory Compromise
AUTHORS:
Alp Yurter, Paul E. Kaloostian
KEYWORDS:
Giant Thoracic Meningocele; Intrathoracic; Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF); Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt; Respiratory Compromise; Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF-I)
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Modern Neurosurgery,
Vol.3 No.4,
October
17,
2013
ABSTRACT: Objective: The authors report a rare case of giant thoracic meningocele causing acute respiratory compromise, treated with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Case Report: We report the case of a 36-year-old with severe scoliosis status post repair over a decade ago, neurofibromatosis type I, and a known large meningocele in the left thoracic cavity, presenting with new acute respiratory compromise. She was taken to the operating room for a lumboperitoneal shunt, but the operation was aborted due to her severe spinal deformity. Two days later, she successfully underwent a procedure for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Upon discharge a week later, the patient was hemodynamically stable, able to move all extremities with good strength, and demonstrated improved oxygenation. In the following 7 months, the patient demonstrated continued minimal requirement on nasal cannula, and MRI showed a stable left thoracic giant meningocele. Conclusion: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is a method of treating and stabilizing acutely symptomatic giant meningoceles.