Giant Occipital Meningoencephalocele: Anaesthetic Implications

Encephalocele is a broad term representing herniation of cranial contents through a congenital defect in the cranium. If only cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and meninges herniate, it is termed as a meningocele. A meningoencephalocele is herniation of both neural elements and meninges. Anaesthetic challenges in management of occipital meningoencephalocele include securing the airway with intubation in lateral position, intraoperative prone position and its associated complications, careful securing of the endotracheal tube and accurate assessment of blood loss. We report a case of a giant occipital meningoencephalocele and discuss its anaesthetic implications.