Pneumocephalus as a cause of a decrease in the bispectral index

A sharp decrease in the values of the bispectral index (BIS), along with an increase in suppression rate, was observed in a patient after the removal of an epidermoid tumor in the cerebellopontine angle by right retrosigmoid access under general anesthesia. This was probably related to a frontal pneumocephalus. No accompanying neurological signs were observed. The patient was extubated in the Recovery Room with no further incidents, as the BIS increased again. The neurosurgeons chose conservative treatment, relying on the reabsorption and redistribution of the air.