title: The role of the endonasal endoscope in the operative management of brain abscess: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The endonasal endoscope has become widely integrated into the operative practice of skull-base surgeons. Although it is not the current standard of practice for the drainage of intracranial abscesses, transnasal neuroendoscopy has the potential for benefit over both stereotaxy and open craniotomy because it is minimally invasive and provides a visual confirmation of debridement. We present two recent cases in which patients with intradural abscesses adjacent to the anterior skull base were successfully drained and irrigated using an endoscopic approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two patients with post-traumatic intradural brain abscess underwent transnasal neuroendoscopic drainage in a 1-year period. In both cases, the abscesses were drained and irrigated without complication under direct visualization. The patients' outcomes were felt to be positive given their initial insults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transnasal endoscopic drainage of brain abscesses appears to be safe and has particular advantages in specific cases over the current operative standard, which are likely to prove beneficial for patients and cement it as a feasible alternative to stereotactic aspiration and craniotomy.
authors: School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Sacks
authors: Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, United States.
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Kim
authors: Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, United States.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Russell
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D003392:Cranial Sinuses / Q000473:pathology; D003399:Craniotomy; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents