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Background: Intracranial abscess (IA) causes significant morbidity and mortality. The impact of baseline frailty status on post-operative outcomes of IA patients remains largely unknown. The present study evaluated if frailty status can be used to prognosticate outcomes in IA patients., Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all IA patients undergoing craniotomy at our institution from 2011 to 2018 (N.=18). These IA patients were age and gender matched with patients undergoing craniotomy for intracranial tumor (IT), an internal control for comparison. Demographic and clinical data were collected to measure frailty, using the modified frailty index-11 (mFI-11) and pre-operative American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System (ASA). Post-operative complications were measured by the Clavien-Dindo Grade (CDG)., Results: No significant difference in mFI-11 or ASA score was observed between the IA and IT groups (P=0.058 and P=0.131, respectively). IA patients had significantly higher CDG as compared with the control IT patients (P<0.001). There was a trend towards increasing LOS in the IA group as compared to the IT group (P=0.053). Increasing mFI and ASA were significant predictors of LOS by multiple linear regression in the IA group (P=0.006 and P=0.001, respectively), but not in the control IT group. Neither mFI-11 nor ASA were found to be predictors for CDG in either group. Within this case-control group of patients, we found an increase for odds of having IA with increasing mFI (OR=1.838, 95% CI: 1.016-3.362, P=0.044)., Conclusions: Frail IA patients tend to have more severe postoperative complications. The mFI-11 seems to predict increased resource utilization in the form of LOS. This study provides the initial retrospective data of another neurosurgical pathology where frailty leads to significantly worse outcomes. We also found that mFI may serve as a potential risk factor for severe disease.

Background: Epidural abscesses and subdural empyema after craniotomy are potentially lethal complications in neurosurgery. Patients with recalcitrant cranial wound infections may be difficult to manage, and dural reconstruction in these patients is challenging., Methods: A total of 14 patients presented with recurrent intracranial infection after craniotomy. The symptoms and signs included persistent fever, despite prolonged systemic broad-spectrum antibiotic administration and repetitive debridement of the dural space. They underwent reconstruction with an omental free flap to cover the craniotomy defect. Microvascular anastomosis is usually performed between the gastroepiploic and superficial temporal vessels. Surgeries were performed in the chronic stages of infection, and the patients were reviewed and assessed for recurrence over the long-term postoperatively., Results: The postoperative course was uneventful, and flap survival was excellent in all patients. The patients were discharged with no evidence of wound discharge, and there were no reports of infection recurrence, flap failure, or donor site morbidity., Conclusions: The use of vascularized free omentum flap was effective in cases involving intractable cranial wound infection.

This study aims to identify predictive factors related to clinical outcome, reoperation, and complications in patients with brain abscess.Patients with a diagnosis of brain abscess at discharge at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine between 2008 and 2018 were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors associated with Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge, GOS at 1 year after discharge, reoperation and complications.Among 183 patients enrolled into the study, 142 patients had a good outcome at discharge (GOS ≥ 4) and 41 had a poor outcome (GOS ≤ 3). During the follow-up period, 20 additional patients had a good outcome. A total of 156 patients were treated by open craniotomy excision (n = 72) and aspiration (n = 84), 10 of whom underwent reoperation. Complications in surgical patients for brain abscess occurred in 54 patients. Poor outcome was related to Glasgow coma scale (P = .007) and ventricular proximity (P = .001). Surgical method was associated with reoperation (P = .04) and complications (P < .001). Seizure at admission was related to epilepsy (P < .001). Surgical method was related to postoperative intracranial hemorrhage (P = .02).Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and ventricular proximity were associated with poor outcome. Further, patients who underwent aspiration were more likely to experience reoperation, while open craniotomy excision (OCE) was related to complications. Patients presenting seizure at admission were more likely to develop epilepsy. Patients who underwent OCE tended to experience postoperative intracranial hemorrhage.

Cerebral feohifomycosis are severe infections caused by dematiaceous fungi. Cladophialophora bantiana is one of the most commonly isolated species; it has central nervous system tropism and it often manifests as a brain abscess in immunocompetent patients. In immunocompromised patients, it can lead to brain abscesses and disseminated infections. Despite the availability of broad-spectrum antifungal drugs, it is a must to perform surgical management, in addition to drug therapy. However, mortality is high. The diagnostic approach must be invasive to establish a timely diagnosis and direct treatment based on culture and susceptibility tests. We report a case of brain abscess caused by C. bantiana in an immunosuppressed patient who was treated with surgical resection and voriconazole with an adequate response to therapy and without neurological sequels.

Background: Epicrania fugax is included in the appendix of the International Classification of Headache Disorders and is characterized as recurrent brief attacks of linear or zigzag pain moving across the cranial surface, commencing and terminating in the distribution of different nerves. We present a new case of epicrania fugax in which the headache was the presenting symptom of a cerebellar abscess., Case Report: We present a 58-year-old woman with prior history of Chiari I malformation who underwent suboccipital craniectomy. Two weeks after surgery, she experienced paroxysmal pain episodes of 1-3 seconds, with constant linear trajectory from the right occipital surface to the right orbital region, remaining pain free between episodes. Cranial tomography showed a hypodense intraaxial lesion in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Magnetic Resonance Imaging exhibited intralesional bleeding and peripheral enhancement after gadolinium administration. Post-surgical cerebellar abscess was diagnosed and antibiotic therapy was started; the patient underwent urgent surgical drainage. Pain disappeared after the surgery and the patient remains pain free with 12 months of follow-up., Conclusion: Posterior fossa abnormalities have been described as a possible cause of secondary epicrania fugax. The presence of red flags should encourage conducting of paraclinical tests to rule out a symptomatic form.

Objectives: There is a paucity of literature that examines predictors of reoperation and noninfectious complications following treatment of cerebral abscess with craniotomy. The goal of the present study is to identify predictors for each of these outcomes., Patients and Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database 2012-2016 file was the data source. Patients were identified using a combination of CPT and ICD-9/10 codes. Exclusions included missing age/gender, secondary surgery, and absent length of stay information. Univariate followed by multivariable analysis using logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of reoperation and noninfectious postoperative complications (p < 0.05)., Results: 166 patients met the above criteria. Median age was 56 (IQR 44-65) and 68.1% of patients were men. The 30-day reoperation rate was 18.1% and increasing white blood cell count (WBC) was identified as a significant risk factor for reoperation (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% CI 1.02-1.19, p = 0.013). Noninfectious complications occurred at a rate of 20.5% at 30 days. Significant predictors were ASA classification ≥4 (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.74-9.81, p = 0.001), smoking (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.18-7.78, p = 0.020), and increasing WBC count (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20, p = 0.007). Emergency case status, abscess location (supratentorial versus infratentorial), nor chronic steroid use demonstrated a significant relationship with the studied outcomes., Conclusion: Increasing preoperative WBC count predicts both reoperation and noninfectious complications following craniotomy for cerebral abscess. Less modifiable predictors for noninfectious complications which may help anticipate operative risk are smoking and high ASA classification., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Syndrome of the trephined is a unique neurosurgical condition that is seen in patients that have undergone craniectomy. While the symptoms of the condition range from mild to severe, the only definitive treatment for the condition is replacement of the bone flap. This article presents a novel, temporary treatment for syndrome of the trephined in a patient with severe symptoms who was unable to undergo immediate cranioplasty due to infection., Case Description: A 25-year-old gentleman with a history of trauma resulting in hydrocephalus, craniectomy, and eventually ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement presented with a cranial wound infection requiring removal of his bone flap. While being treated with antibiotics, with his bone flap removed, he developed severe syndrome of the trephined. An emergency bedside procedure was developed and executed to treat his condition., Conclusions: Treating syndrome of the trephined with an external suction device proved useful and lifesaving fort the patient presented. Such a device can be made with common supplies found within any hospital. The technique used to treat the patient is novel and may be useful for others to consider if ever faced with a similar situation., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

A temporal lobe abscess was diagnosed in a 57-year-old man. A urethral catheter had been inserted 12 days earlier, just prior to clot evacuation of a subacute haematoma secondary to an arterio-venous malformation. Fever persisted despite debridement and treatment with meropenem and vancomycin. Gram stains of operative samples showed no bacteria. Extended cultures grew pinpoint colonies after 5 days. Meanwhile, sequencing of bacterial 16S rDNA from operative specimens had identified Mycoplasma hominis; the bacterial colonies were subsequently similarly identified. The patient responded promptly following addition of oral doxycycline 100 mg two times per day. There is a growing literature of similar cases. Transient bacteraemia, following urinary catheterisation, with seeding of existing sites of inflammation is the proposed explanation. Urethral carriage of M. hominis is 15% and catheterisation is a common procedure. Mycoplasma hominis maybe more common than appreciated, especially as the need for extended cultures makes a correct diagnosis less likely., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared., (2017 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Objective: To investigate surgical (aspiration and resection) outcome of encapsulated brain abscess in superficial non-eloquent area., Methods: We searched Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library from the foundation of the database till December 2013. Two researchers screened literatures independently, assessed the quality of the included studies and extracted the data. Revman 5.2.8 was used to do meta-analysis., Results: A total of five studies were included, all retrospective cohort studies. Eighty-four cases were in the abscess aspiration group and 124 cases were in the abscess resection group. Meta-analysis showed that the abscess resection group had lower rate of postoperative residual abscess, lower re-operation rate, higher rate of improvement in neurological status within 1 month after surgery, their OR (95% Confidence Interval (CI)) were 0.12 (0.04, 0.34), 0.07 (0.02, 0.20), 7.9 (3.20, 19.51) respectively; the abscess resection group had shorter duration of post-operative antibiotics and average length of hospital stay; Standard Mean Difference (SMD) (95% CI) were -0.84 (-1.27, -0.41), -1.01 (-1.54, -0.49), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of improvement in neurological status at 3 months post-operative and the mortality., Conclusions: Current evidences suggest that for encapsulated brain abscess in superficial non-eloquent area, abscess resection compared to abscess aspiration had lower post-operative residual abscess rate; lower re-operation rate; higher rate of improvement in neurological status within 1 month after surgery, shorter duration of post-operative antibiotics and average length of hospital stay. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of improvement in neurological status at 3 months post-operative and the mortality.

There was analyzed the application efficacy of stereotaxic aspiration of the brain abscess (BA) content, localized in a deep and functionally significant parts of the brain, in 12 patients--with supratentorial BA. Stereotaxic interventions were performed, using stereotaxic systems CRW Radionics (USA) and the security program for calculation of coordynates StereoFusion, StereoPlan (Radionics), Fraime Link (Medtronic, USA). Postoperative observation period have lasted from 1 to 36 mo, (14 ± 3.6) mo at average. lntraoperatively in 11 (91.7%) patients a purulent content of BA was evacuated, and in 1 (8.3%)--a BA was diagnosed in the encephalitis stage. Stereotaxic aspiration is an effective and secure method of surgical treatment of BA. It may constitute an alternative to open surgical excision of BA due to lesser invasiveness and possibility of the neurological complications occurrence.

A 62-year-old man with high fever and in a state of disorientation was transferred to our hospital. One year before this transfer, he had undergone total arch replacement surgery for thoracic aortic dissection. On admission to our hospital, head MRI revealed multiple brain abscesses in the territory of the vertebral-basilar artery, and chest CT showed gas around the aortic graft, in particular, at the origin of the left subclavian artery. We diagnosed him with brain abscesses in the left vertebral-basilar artery resulting from an infected aortic graft. We immediately began administration of intravenous antibiotics. Although his blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures were negative, fortunately, the brain abscesses and ectopic gas disappeared. Since reports of only antibiotic use for treating brain abscesses due to aortic graft infection are rare, the appropriate duration of antibiotic administration has not been established yet. Therefore, careful observation is required in this case.

Objective: To explore possible reasons for the incidence of a pituitary abscess following transsphenoidal surgery and determine the most effective treatment., Methods: A series of 12 patients who had undergone transsphenoidal surgery in other hospitals before being treated at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were reviewed. The presence of a pituitary abscess was confirmed when pus was intraoperatively observed within the sella turcica. All patients were treated with debridement of the abscess, nine among whom through a transsphenoidal approach and the other three via a craniotomy, followed by antibiotic treatment and hormone replacement therapy. The mean follow-up time was 27.0 months (range from 3.0 to 79.0 months)., Results: Headache (92%), panhypopituitarism (58%) and visual disturbance (50%) were the most common clinical indicators of a pituitary abscess. Imaging tests demonstrated a pituitary mass in all patients, with seven (58%) manifested with typical magnetic resonance features of an abscess. Ten patients (83%) were correctly diagnosed preoperatively. During surgical exploration, six presented with severe inflammation or an abscess within the sphenoidal sinus. Causative organisms were identified in five patients (42%). After surgical and antibiotic therapies, all patients fully recovered except for two presenting with severe visual impairment. Six patients (50%) required hormone replacement therapy., Conclusion: Retrograde infection from the sphenoid sinus may be a vital mechanism underlying the formation of a pituitary abscess following transsphenoidal surgery. Debridement of the abscess through surgical approaches combined with antibiotic treatment has been found to yield positive outcomes., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Endovascular embolization has become an important treatment option for cerebral aneurysms, along with surgical clipping. But few literatures mentioned infectious complications after coiling of aneurysms. We present a patient with a brain abscess that developed after endosaccular embolization of a left middle cerebral artery aneurysm. The brain abscess was located adjacent to the aneurysm and discovered more than 2 months after embolization. We discuss the clinical implications of this rare complication and review the literature for infections related to the coils used for embolization of aneurysms., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To analyze the variables determining morbidity, mortality and outcome in subjects with brain abscesses treated at a single center over a 10-year period., Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on a series of 59 patients with brain abscesses surgically treated with stereotactically guided aspiration or open craniotomy excision. Such variables as age, gender, clinical presentation, number of days to diagnosis, location, number of lesions, predisposing factors, mechanism of infection, etiological agent, and therapy were analyzed independently. Complications were defined as any deviation from the normal postoperative course occurring within 30 days of surgery, and classified according to a four-point gradual severity scale. Postoperative outcome was appraised through the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) 6 months after surgery, 0-4 points were considered poor outcome and 5 points good outcome., Results: Eighty abscesses were diagnosed and surgically managed in 59 patients. The mean age was 44.69 years (range: 0.16-77); 59.3% were female. The median number of days to diagnosis was 7. Most frequent clinical presentations included fever (52.5%), headache (42.4%), and focal neurologic deficits (39%). Mechanism of infection was mainly hematogenous spread (32.2%). Stereotactically guided aspiration was the treatment of choice for 74.6% of the patients, whereas 25.4% of the cases were managed through open craniotomy excision. Outcome was favorable in 81.35% (n = 48) of the subjects. General morbidity was 27.1%, and mortality stood at 10.16%. Out of a total 38.98% (n = 23) of complications, two-thirds were due to medical causes. The analysis of variables revealed that only age (p = 0.02), immunosuppression (OR 5.83; p = 0.012) and hematogenous spread (p < 0.01) were associated with poor outcomes., Conclusions: Immunosuppression, hematogenous spread and advanced age were predictors of poor prognosis. Most of the complications following brain abscess management were not directly related to surgery or surgical technique.

Following brain injury, return of consciousness and cough reflex are presumed to be associated with safe airway. We describe two patients who had a normal cough reflex, but impaired swallowing, which led to prolonged hospital stay. This report highlights the dissociation between the cough reflex and swallowing function in such patients.

A 45-year-old man presented with a rare case of glioblastoma associated with intratumoral abscess formation manifesting as headache and vomiting after an appendectomy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a ring-enhanced lesion mimicking malignant glioma. Craniotomy and tumor removal were performed. Abscess formation within the intra-axial tumor was found intraoperatively. Histological examination revealed glioblastoma with abscess, and the etiological agent was anaerobic Gram-negative bacilli. The suspected route of microbial migration and colonization in this tumor was bacteremia from appendicitis.

A 34-year-old man presented with a case of subdural empyema and cerebral abscess that developed 12 years after initial neurosurgical intervention for a traffic accident in 1998. Under a diagnosis of acute subdural hematoma and cerebral contusion, several neurosurgical procedures were performed at another hospital, including hematoma removal by craniotomy, external decompression, duraplasty, and cranioplasty. The patient experienced an epileptic seizure, and was referred to our hospital in March 2010. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a cerebral abscess extending to the subdural space just under the previous surgical field. Surgical intervention was refused and antimicrobial treatment was initiated, but proved ineffective. Surgical removal of artificial dura and cranium with subdural empyema, and resection of a cerebral abscess were performed on May 12, 2010. No organism was recovered from the surgical samples. Meropenem and vancomycin were selected as perioperative antimicrobial agents. No recurrence of infection has been observed. Postneurosurgical subdural empyema and cerebral abscess are recently emerging problems. Infections of neurosurgical sites containing implanted materials occur in 6% of cases, usually within several months of the surgery. Subdural empyema and cerebral abscess developing 12 years after neurosurgical interventions are extremely rare. The long-term clinical course suggests less pathogenic organisms as a cause of infection, and further investigations to develop appropriate antimicrobial selection and adequate duration of antimicrobial administration for these cases are needed.

Purpose: Frameless stereotactic neurosurgery is increasingly being used for the biopsy of intracranial tumors and the resection of deep-seated lesions where reliance on surface anatomic landmarks can be misleading, as well as in movement disorders, psychiatric disorders, seizure disorders, and chronic refractory pain. Nascent biological approaches, including gene therapy and stem-cell and tissue transplants for movement disorders, also utilize neuronavigational techniques. These procedures are complex and involve understanding of the basic principles and factors affecting neuronavigation. The procedure may appear to be simple, but serious complications may occur., Methods: The purpose of this study was to review the intraoperative and postoperative complications occurring during frameless stereotaxy at our institution from January 2003 to July 2007., Results: Seventy-eight patients underwent various neurosurgical procedures under general anesthesia. Intraoperative complications seen were intraoperative brain bulge (n = 3), seizures (n = 3), failure to extubate (n = 4), and fresh neurodeficits (n = 6). No hemodynamic disturbances such as hypertension or hypotension or bradycardia or tachycardia requiring active intervention were observed., Conclusion: Awareness and vigilance can help in the early identification and better management of the above intraoperative complications.

Capnocytophaga spp are Gram-negative bacteria commonly identified as oral saprophytes of humans, dogs and cats; they rarely cause invasive infections in immunocompetent subjects. This case report is about a rare case of cerebral abscess caused by Capnocytophaga spp in an immunocompetent subject who had no risk factors for Capnocytophaga invasive infections (oral alterations, traumatic or iatrogenic lesions of pharynx and/or oesophagus, recent dog bite). We also report Capnocytophaga spp naturally resistant to metronidazole, this being the cause of inefficacy of this drug usually included in empiric chemotherapy of cerebral abscess.

Aspergillosis of the central nervous system (CNS) is a rare, but well described disease in immuno-competent patients. We present a 65-year-old patient who developed neuro-aspergillosis 10 months after severe cranio-facial trauma (Le Fort III). He was treated successfully with surgery including stereotactic drainage and, with Amphotericin B, Liposomal Amphotericin B, and Itraconazol.

The utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for the diagnosis of intracranial abscesses has already been established. However, the use of DWI for pituitary abscesses has not been previously reported. We present a case of postoperative pituitary abscess in which T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a supra-sellar cystic mass, with the cyst contents showing high intensity on DWI. This case suggests that DWI is useful for the diagnosis of pituitary abscesses.

Introduction: Ventriculoperitoneal shunts were routinely used in the past in children with posterior fossa tumors and hydrocephalus. They can, however, cause a multitude of problems., Case Report: This report highlights a previously unencountered phenomenon of a pyogenic abscess forming within a posterior fossa ependymoma as a result of shunt infection. The shunt was exteriorized and the child treated with antibiotics before surgery was done. Only a partial excision of the tumor was possible, as the inflammatory response caused by the abscess had obliterated tissue planes.

Objective: To report our experience in treating multiloculated pyogenic brain abscess and determine whether there are differences in the bacteriology, predisposing factors, treatment choices, and outcomes between multiloculated and uniloculated brain abscesses., Methods: We studied clinical data collected during a 16-year period from 124 patients with pyogenic brain abscess, including 25 cases of multiloculated abscess., Results: The incidence of multiloculated brain abscess was 20%. In these 25 patients, hematogenous spread from a remote infectious focus was the most common cause of infection, as it was for the cases of uniloculated abscess. Headache and hemiparesis were the most common symptoms in patients with multiloculated abscess. In patients with uniloculated abscess, fever was the most common symptom. Viridans streptococci were the most commonly isolated pathogens. Bacteroides fragilis was the most common anaerobe in multiloculated abscess, and aerobic gram-negative bacilli were the most common pathogens in patients with uniloculated abscess. Of the patients with multiloculated abscess, 21 were treated surgically and 4 were treated with antibiotics only. Overall, eight patients (38%) needed another operation because of abscess recurrence after the initial operation. In uniloculated abscess, the rate of abscess recurrence after initial surgery was 13.1%. Mortality was 16% in multiloculated abscess and 17.1% in uniloculated abscess., Conclusion: Multiloculated abscesses accounted for 20% of our patients with pyogenic brain abscess. Excision seems to be the more appropriate surgical choice in multiloculated abscess. Prognosis for patients with multiloculated abscess can be as good as that for patients with uniloculated abscess. However, clinicians must carefully monitor these patients because the possibility of recurrence after surgery is significantly higher in patients with multiloculated abscess than in those with uniloculated abscess.

Background: Patients with physical brain abnormalities have an increased risk of developing psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES). Here we describe patients who developed PNES after intracranial neurosurgery for indications other than the control of refractory epileptic seizures and explore whether neurosurgical intervention is at risk factor for PNES., Method: We searched the database of 372 patients diagnosed with PNES at our department over the last 10 years and identified 17 patients (4.6%) in whom PNES first started after intracranial neurosurgery. Surgical procedures included the complete or partial resection of a meningioma, AV malformation, cavernoma, plexus papilloma, neurinoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, dysontogenetic cyst, the drainage of a brain abscess and removal of a subdural hematoma. PNES were documented by ictal video-EEG, ictal EEG, or ictal observation and examination in all cases. The diagnosis of additional epileptic seizures were confirmed by ictal EEG/video-EEG, or made on the basis of a clinical assessment by an experienced epileptologist., Findings: Five patients had purely psychogenic postoperative seizure disorders, twelve had epileptic and psychogenic attacks. Median age at neurosurgery was 32 years (range 5-54), median latency between surgery and onset of PNES was 1 year (range 0-17 years)., Interpretation: PNES may develop after intracranial neurosurgery undertaken for other indications than the control of refractory epileptic seizures. Younger patients with a history of pre-operative psychiatric problems or epileptic seizures and surgical complications may be at higher risk. A diagnosis of PNES should be considered in patients who develop refractory seizures after neurosurgery.

Although infection is the commonest central nervous system complication following renal transplantation, brain abscess is uncommon. Over the last 11 years, five renal transplant recipients who had brain abscesses were treated by computed tomography (CT)-guided stereotactic aspiration. Three patients had a fungal abscess, one a tuberculous abscess and the other had a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus abscess. One patient required a craniotomy for the excision of a fungal abscess which was persistent after two CT-guided stereotactic aspirations. The survivors in this group are the patient with a tuberculous abscess who is alive and well 5 years after diagnosis, and another with a dematiaceous fungal abscess (phaeohyphomycosis). CT-guided stereotactic surgery is minimally invasive, and can safely be performed in these patients. It often leads to an aetiological diagnosis in renal transplant recipients with brain abscesses. Specific antibiotic management directed towards the causative organism rather than empirical treatment can be instituted following the procedure. Although the ultimate prognosis in these patients is bleak even with specific antibiotic therapy, an occasional patient might have a good outcome with prompt and appropriate therapy.

Objective: Cerebellar abscesses that are often ominously silent have a significant mortality. Sudden total occlusion of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways makes an aggressive surgical approach mandatory. Our neurosurgical unit at Wentworth Hospital, Durban, South Africa, prospectively instituted a protocol for patients with cerebellar abscesses with reference to CSF diversion with the aim of improving outcome. Our 13-year experience with this approach to cerebellar abscesses is presented., Methods: Since 1983, patients with cerebellar abscesses have been managed according to a standard protocol. In 1987, a policy of aggressive CSF diversion was prospectively instituted. This involved immediate CSF diversion in any patient with over or incipient hydrocephalus, even if fully conscious. The associated hydrocephalus was diagnosed on initial computed tomographic scans. CSF diversion was performed by means of a ventricular drain, inserted in the reception area under local anesthesia. The period from January 1983 to December 1995 was analyzed, and the impact of aggressive CSF diversion on patient outcome was evaluated., Results: Seventy-seven patients with cerebellar abscesses during the 13-year period under review were studied. Thirty-four patients were treated before the introduction of the policy of aggressive CSF diversion. Of these patients, 10 died, resulting in a mortality of 29% and a morbidity of 21%. Forty-three patients were treated after the institution of the new policy of CSF diversion. Of these patients, five died, resulting in a mortality rate of 11.6% and a morbidity rate of 14%., Conclusion: Although surgical drainage of a cerebellar abscess and eradication of the primary septic source and appropriate antibiotic coverage are necessary, the management of hydrocephalus, or even incipient hydrocephalus, is of paramount importance.

The authors report a case of a two-year-old child with esophageal stricture -- caused first by caustic ingestion and by the end-to-end anastomosis, performed after the excision of the stenotic esophageal segment-- that required repeated dilations. These manouvres unfortunately led to bacteremia and a serious complication of a brain abscess, in the right fronto-parietal area, that was promptly removed. A few months later the child was subjected to an esophageal substitution with a colonic transposition. At present he is in good condition and the follow-up showed normal function of the neo-esophagus.

Two patients who developed what appeared to be a granulomatous reaction following muslin wrapping of unclipped aneurysms are reported. They presented with cranial nerve palsies and at operation were found to have an abscess around the wrapped aneurysms. In one of these two patients Staphylococcus epidemidis was isolated from the pus. This, together with further evidence from reported cases in the literature, would suggest that infection may play an additional role at least in some cases in the onset of a foreign-body granulomatous reaction seen following wrapping of aneurysms.

A 39 years old male patient with a 72 hours evolution of acute abdominal syndrome was submitted to appendicectomy. Fourteen days later he developed headache, vomiting, aphasia, torpor, nuchal stiffness and right hemiplegia. A CT-scan showed multiple brain abscesses on both hemispheres. After aspirative puncture of the largest one, antibiotic treatment was established with total recovery of the patient.

The authors report a rare complication during aspiration of a brain abscess. A 23 year-old man who had undergone surgery for empyema two months previously presented himself at our hospital complaining of headache, deterioration of activity and conscious level. An emergency computed tomography demonstrated a left frontal brain abscess. Aspiration and drainage were performed. However, this resulted in massive hematoma in and around the abscess capsule. Following craniotomy and excision of the abscess, the patient was cured. Microscopic examination of the abscess revealed the formation of a complete capsule consisting of fibroblasts and collagen fiber. In addition to this, significant neovascularization with inflammatory cells was apparent around the capsule. These findings suggest that profuse hemorrhage may occur in aspiration and drainage surgery.

Background: Visual field defects occur from a variety of causes. As a result, the differential diagnosis of visual field defects and their etiology is important., Methods: A 64-year old white male was examined in follow up related to the surgical removal of a right temporal lobe abscess secondary to a childhood right side mastoidectomy. The patient underwent ophthalmic examination, which suggested possible changes in his field of vision, and neurobehavioral evaluation related to his visual field defect, a left homonymous superior quadrant defect., Results: Computed tomography (CT) scan of the head without contrast enhancement confirmed the ophthalmic diagnosis and correlated with the patient's medical history. However, neurobehavioral evaluation revealed a number of deficits that were believed to be associated with alcohol abuse., Conclusions: Visual field loss with changing vision symptoms and a complex history can confound the differential diagnosis of visual field defects. Frequently careful and complete evaluation can confirm and reveal subsequent diagnoses.

In this study, a series of 10 cases of abscess of the posterior cerebral fossa is analysed. In our department, the incidence of this condition is 2 cases per year. These predominantly occur in juvenile male and are frequently caused by adjacent ENT disease. Numerous therapeutic approaches are possible. In our series, 3 patients underwent emergency surgery with simultaneous treatment of the abscess of the ear. A second series of 6 patients underwent delayed treatment of the ENT infection (over 2 weeks) after the emergency puncture of the abscess. The rapid and good recovery of the 3 patients who underwent simultaneous petromastiodectomy and puncture of the abscess during surgery should be emphasized.

The very popular concept of brain death can lead to a defeatist attitude when confronted by a patient with severe brain stem dysfunction. This problem is compounded by the constant controversy surrounding the establishing of criteria to determine brain death. Many young doctors tend to accept the precondition of irreversibility as being any condition that is not explicitly listed in the examples of potentially reversible conditions. In children, however, with compressive brain stem dysfunction, decompressive surgery can lead to a reversal of the dysfunction. In the last three years, we have had the opportunity to observe 5 children who were deeply comatose and apnoeic. All were suffering from compression of the brain stem and experienced dramatic return of brain stem function following emergency decompression. The implications of these findings on the therapeutic attitude towards compressive brain stem lesions in children are exposed. In children with severe brain stem dysfunction, and no evidence of brain stem destruction, decompressive surgery should be undertaken before a diagnosis of brain death is considered.

The study is based on follow-up data of 108 patients treated for brain abscess (mean follow-up period 11 years). The overall incidence of epilepsy was 34% (37% in supratentorial lesions). The author compared the incidence of several parameters between two groups of patients: those presenting, and those not presenting with epilepsy after brain abscess treatment. Parameters characterized by significantly different incidence in each group were taken into account as possible risk factors influencing the development of epilepsy. Sex, age of the patient, localisation and size of the abscess are discussed as presumptive risk factors modifying prediction to epilepsy. The author presents a new concept of epileptic focus formation to explain satisfactorily the results of the study on the basis of pathological mechanisms. A protocol, which may be useful to evaluate the prediction to epilepsy after brain abscess treatment is proposed.

A 30-year-old Vietnamese patient is reported who was admitted with a resistant acute otitis externa, and who complained also of headache and fever. The symptoms were found to be caused by the intracranial complications (epidural abscess and bacterial meningitis) of an aural cholesteatoma. A secondary occlusive hydrocephalus developed in spite of successful otological surgery that preserved hearing and vestibular function.

Frontal tension pneumocephalus is seen as a complication of surgery in the sitting position. A case of posterior fossa tension pneumocephalus occurring after operation for a posterior fossa abscess is presented.

Acute and chronic ear infection can lead to intracranial involvement. We report on a case in which two typical cerebral complications followed a chronic otitis media. It seemed that there was no causal relationship between brain abscess and meningitis. The meningitis itself was complicated by rupture of an infectious intracranial aneurysm with fatal outcome. We have not been able to find a similar case in the literature. Clinical picture and therapeutic management are discussed.

Total extirpation of a brain abscess runs the risk of opening the ventricular system and of its contamination. Three case reports are described with this peroperative complication. All of them healed. Stress is laid on postoperative care calling for the application of antibiotics through lumbar puncture or directly into the cerebral ventricles.

On the basis of 6 cases of late cerebral abscesses after lesions caused by shell-splinters treated by us, clinic, diagnostics and therapy of this complication are discussed in detail. In 3 patients there were no direct relations between the splinters and the abscesses so that further factors (age, vascular wall changes, and the like) must play a role in the formation of the abscesses; such vascular wall fibroses were found histologically in 3 of the examined abscess capsules. In 3 cases the bacteriological identification of the pathogens was possible. The treatment was carried out by employing puncture or extirpation or the combination of the two methods.

The aim was to determine whether recurrent perseveration, i.e. the tendency to incorrectly repeat previous responses, is related to the site of cerebral lesion. Sixty-seven brain-damaged patients and 35 control subjects were studied with a modified Benton Visual Retention Test. Patients with anterior lesions made a higher number of recurrent perseverations than patients with posterior lesions. The results was in disagreement with the hypothesis that recurrent perseveration is associated with left posterior lesions.

A 16-month-old boy underwent oesophageal dilatations following an unsuccessful attempt to locally resect a 3 cm long lye stricture. He then developed a brain abscess which was surgically drained. Subsequently, a right colon interposition was performed to bypass the stricture. Following oesophageal dilatations, bacteraemia and fever are common but the occurrence of metastatic brain abscesses is rare. This serious complication should be kept in mind when long-term treatment by repeated oesophageal dilatations is planned.