INTRODUCTION: Transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) refers to the sudden, temporary disturbance of consciousness followed by spontaneous recovery. Little is known about acute changes in intracranial pressure as a possible cause of TLOC. CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 78-year-old man with recurrent episodes of TLOC due to raised intracranial pressure (ICP) triggered by mechanical compression of a large postoperative lumbar pseudomeningocele. The video-electroencephalogram (EEG) showed sudden flattening distinctly different from EEG changes seen in cardiovascular TLOC. CONCLUSION: Our EEG observations suggest that a sudden increase in ICP should be considered as a potential cause of TLOC, particularly after spinal surgery.
Zieglgänsberger et al. (2026) studied this question.