Stereotactic management of bacterial brain abscesses.
BACKGROUND
CT and MR guided stereotactic techniques have provided promising results in the management of brain abscesses. We reviewed our results of stereotactic management of brain abscesses in 20 consecutive patients with 28 abscesses from 1986 to 1993.


METHODS
13 abscesses were in the cerebral hemispheres, 12 in the cerebellum, 2 in the pons and 1 in the thalamus. The bacterial organism was isolated in 12 of the 20 cases. All patients, except one who had a tuberculous abscess, were on antibiotics for less than 7 weeks.


RESULTS
Although there were 3 patients in coma before surgery, the mortality rate was zero and 17 patients had an excellent recovery with 3 patients having a persistent mild neurologic disability. Stereotactic aspiration of the largest lesion in the patients with multiple brain abscesses combined with intravenous antibiotic therapy was sufficient for the resolution of all lesions. Two of our patients treated with antibiotics alone showed abscess progression with neurologic worsening.


CONCLUSIONS
Stereotactic aspiration is safe, accurate, and when combined with the appropriate antibiotics, should be considered the procedure of choice in the management of brain abscesses.
Shahzadi
S
S
Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Hospital, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lozano
A M
AM
Bernstein
M
M
Guha
A
A
Tasker
R R
RR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013396:Suction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents