Our Clinical Experience Of Brain Abscess In A Tertiary Care Center

Research Article
Thulung Suraj, Baniya Aashish, Aryal Binit, Lohani Subash and Gurung Ashim
DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2019.1006.3572
Subject: 
science
KeyWords: 
Brain abscess, Neuronavigation, Stereotactic
Abstract: 

Introduction: Brain abscess is a focal suppurative collection of pus within the brain parenchyma surrounded by a capsule. Despite the ever-growing development in neuroimaging, surgical techniques and antibiotics, the management is still controversial including the need for surgery, optimal surgical approaches, type and length of antibiotic treatment, and need for monitoring during treatment. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients treated for brain abscess between 2016 to 2018 at Upendra Devkota Memorial National Institute of Neurological and Allied Sciences, Bansbari, Nepal. Results: There were a total of 19 patients treated for brain abscess over a period of three years. Headache followed by fever and nausea/vomiting is the most common presenting complaint. They were investigated with CT / MIR and subjected to stereotactic/neuronavigation guided aspiration with few cases requiring craniotomy as well. All patients were treated with six weeks of intravenous and six weeks of oral antibiotics. Culture positivity was seen in five cases, three bacterial and two fungal. Three patients required re-aspiration. Conclusion: The management of brain abscess should be individualized in each patient. In most of the cases single aspiration was sufficient. Most of them usually resolved with surgery followed by 12 weeks of antibiotic therapy