title: Fulminant subdural empyema treated with a wide decompressive craniectomy and continuous irrigation--case report.
abstract: A 56-year-old male presented with fulminant subdural empyema manifesting as rhinorrhea, periorbital cellulitis, fever, convulsions, and consciousness disturbance. Neuroimaging showed pansinusitis with skull destruction and extensive subdural empyema. Decompressive craniectomy, irrigation of the empyema, and subdural drainage were performed. Endoscopic sinus surgery was performed to remove the source of infection at the same time. Streptococcus milleri was cultured from the pus. Continuous irrigation of the subdural space with saline containing gentamicin for 7 days resulted in prompt elimination of pus and debris. The patient was discharged with only a slight neurological deficit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kenwakai Otemachi Hospital, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan. ywada-nsu@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: Tomoshige
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Senda
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Isono
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D003399:Craniotomy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D013354:Empyema, Subdural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed