ABSTRACT
This chapter serves as a broad overview of a multitude of complications following craniotomy that should be understood by the team and recognized in a timely fashion to decrease the overall morbidity of this unique patient population. Before patients undergo craniotomy, a thorough history should be obtained to evaluate for any history of clotting abnormalities and a thorough review of medications should be obtained. Pneumocephalus is the accumulation of air in the intracranial compartment. It commonly occurs after craniotomy if the air is not completely evacuated before the bone flap is replaced or if there is communication with an air-filled sinus. Emergent reopening of the craniotomy or needle aspiration may be necessary in life-threatening situations. Arterial infarct is a rare complication after craniotomy but may occur if there has been substantial intraoperative manipulation of cerebral vessels. Venous infarcts are generally seen after craniotomy, especially if the venous sinuses are involved in the surgical field.
