title: [Neurosurgical complications of purulent meningitis in the tropical zone].
abstract: Our retrospective study concerned 35 cases of surgical complications related to bacterial meningitis in 16 adults and 19 children. The mean age was 28 years for adults (15-56 years), and 6 months for children (1-12 months). Portal of entry for meningitis was found in 12 cases (35%): 8 sinusitis and 4 otitis. Delay to appearance of complications was 4.5 days, and to diagnosis confirmation 9 days with CT scan (17 cases), and transfontanellar ultrasonography (19 cases). The complications were: hydrocephalus, 19 cases (54%), brain empyemas, 7 cases (20%), abscesses, 10 cases (28.5%), ventriculitis, 2 cases (6%). Twenty-two bacteria were isolated from the CSF: Streptococcus pneumoniae (15 cases), Haemophilus influenzae (5 cases), Neisseria meningitidis (1 case), and Escherichia coli (1 case). Fourteen patients underwent neurosurgical treatment based on aspiration in case of suppuration and external drainage in case of hydrocephalus. The associated medical treatment was antibiotics combining third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolone, and metronidazol, with a mean duration of 12 days. Recovery rate was 89%, letality 11%, and after effect rate were 33%. Our results confirm the low frequency of neurosurgical complications related to bacterial meningitis, but it emphasizes the role of an early CT-scan for diagnosis and prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU de Treichville, Abidjan, Côte-d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Eholie
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Boni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aoussi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Konan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Orega
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Koffi Adonis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ba Zeze
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bissagnene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014329:Tropical Climate
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents