• Christiana K Prucnal and Paul S Jansson.
• Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
• Emerg Med J. 2021 Jul 1; 38 (7): 519-528.

AbstractPresentationAn 83-year-old man presented for headache and altered mental status. Four days prior, he underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for nasal polyps. Over the two previous days, he gradually developed a headache and was brought to the emergency department when his wife noted mild confusion and generalised weakness. His examination was notable for a heart rate of 101 beats per minute, clear nasal discharge, meningismus and confusion to the date with generalised weakness. A lumbar puncture revealed cloudy cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with a white blood cell count of 3519x10ˆ9/L (95% neutrophils). A CT scan of the head was obtained (figure 1).emermed;38/7/519/F1F1F1Figure 1Non-contrast CT scan of the head in axial plane. QUESTION: What is the appropriate next step in management?Obtain MRI of the brain to localise ischaemic damage.Administer broad-spectrum antibiotics, including pseudomonal coverage.Consult otolaryngology to arrange functional endoscopic sinus surgery for CSF leak closure.Consult neurosurgery for surgical decompression of mass lesion(s).© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

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