Delayed Emergence from Anesthesia Resulting from Cerebellar Hemorrhage During Cervical Spine Surgery

In Brief Cerebellar hemorrhage is an unpredictable complication of spinal surgery. We encountered a case of cerebellar hemorrhage presenting with delayed emergence from anesthesia and hemiplegia after resection of an intradural extramedullar tumor from the cervical spine. Postoperative brain computed tomography revealed hematoma in the cerebellar vermis and right cerebellar hemisphere. The patient made a gradual recovery with conservative treatment. Although the mechanism of cerebellar hemorrhage remains speculative, loss of cerebrospinal fluid may play an important role. Cerebellar hemorrhage must therefore be considered in patients with unexplained neurological deterioration or disturbance on emergence from anesthesia after spinal surgery. IMPLICATIONS: We encountered a case of cerebellar hemorrhage presenting with delayed emergence from anesthesia after cervical spine surgery. Loss of cerebrospinal fluid during the surgical procedure may play an important role in the pathogenesis of this complication.