title: CT-guided stereotactic aspiration and treatment of brain abscesses. An experience with 24 cases.
abstract: The present study reports our experience with stereotactic puncture, aspiration and drainage of brain abscesses in 24 patients from a series of 34 consecutive cases. In all patients an intracavitary catheter was left in place for external drainage and daily irrigation with antibiotics. The patients received pre- and postoperatively triple broad spectrum antibiotic treatment, associated with low dose steroids and anti-epileptic drugs. Follow-up CT scans showed immediate reduction of the abscess size and gradual diameter diminution of the enhancing ring structure until its disappearance. The clinical presentation, risk factors, aetiology, outcome, bacteriological and CT findings were analysed. Mortality in this series was 4%. The majority of patients (96%) had no or minimal disability according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale. Our results confirm the value of this treatment policy and suggest that the stereotactic technique is a simple and safe method with minimal mortality and morbidity in the treatment of the majority of chronic brain abscesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bern, Inselspital Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hasdemir
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ebeling
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000628:therapy; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000628:therapy*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents