Subarachnoid empyemas. Considerations in connection with 55 cases.
The authors present data concerning the nosologic frame of the subarachnoid empyemas. Aspects such as incidence, predominance in males (65.4% of all cases), involvement of subjects in their II-nd--IV-th decade, and the complex pathogeny of this affection are discussed. From the bacteriologic viewpoint the predominance of the monomicrobial flora is stressed, mainly staphylococcus strains (24.4% of all cases). The clinical picture consists in a severe infectious syndrome, intracranial hypertension syndrome (27.2% of all cases), neurologic syndrome (motor deficit in 81.8% of the cases, focal attacks in 43.6% of all patients), meningeal syndrome (83.6% of all cases), and psychical disturbances (in 89% of the patients). Of the para-clinical investigations performed cerebral angiography provided conclusive data in 88.5% of all cases. Surgical treatment was applied in 50 of the patients using various methods with an overall death-rate of 26%. The early diagnosis is stressed, as well as the necessity to apply surgical therapy using the bone-flap method, and full surgical cure of the primary infectious focus.
D000328:Adult; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors