PREDISPOSING FACTORS, CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND OUTCOME OF REPEATED ASPIRATION IN CEREBRAL ABSCESS THROUGH A DRAINAGE TUBE IN SITU
Abstract
Background: Cerebral abscess is a serious and life threatening complication of several diseases.Aspiration of the abscess cavity versus excision of capsule are still in debate for the capsulated, large,superficially located abscesses especially in patients with poor surgical fitness. The objective of thisstudy was to look for the clinical presentation and outcome of patients with repeated aspiration incerebral abscess through a drainage tube in situ. Methods: This prospective study was conducted inDepartment of Neurosurgery, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad from Jan 2010 to Jun 2011. Twentythree patients with age ranges 6–21 years who had large, solitary, capsulated, superficially locatedabscesses, were included in this study. These patients had poor American Society of Anaesthesiologists(ASA) grading (grade III and IV). After thorough clinical examination and workup, patients weresubjected to operative procedure. The procedure included placement of 8 size nasogastric tube in theabscess cavity through a single burr hole. Under strict aseptic conditions, repeated aspiration of pus wasdone through the drain daily for 2–4 days consecutively at intervals of 24 hours. The demographic data,predisposing factors, clinical presentation, and outcome of patients with repeated aspiration throughdrain placed in abscess cavity were recorded. Postoperatively, gadolinium enhanced CT-scan was donetwice in the first month at the span of two weeks each, later on monthly for next 3 months. The CTscans were reviewed for recurrence or any other possible intracranial complications. Patients werefollowed for duration of 3 to 6 months. Results: The predisposing factors found were congenital heartdisease in 7 (30.4%) patients, spread of contagious infections like mastoiditis/Chronic suppurativeottitis media in 5 (21.7%) patients, sinusitis in 2 (8.6%) patients, meningitis in 5 (21.7%) patients,septicemia in 3 (13.7%) patients, and penetrating cranial injury in 1 (4.34%) patients. In 16 (69.5%)patients presenting complaints were headache and vomiting, altered sensorium in 8 (34.7%) patients,hemiparesis in 9 (39.1) patients, aphasia in 3 (13.1%) patients, papillodema in 2 (8.7%) patients, andseizures in 1 (4.34%) patients. The abscess resolved in 19(82%) of patients, recurrence occurred in 2(8.7%) of patients, and death occurred in 2 (8.7%). Conclusion: Cerebral abscess is a life threateningcondition requiring aggressive management measures. Aspiration of cerebral abscess with repeatedaspiration through a drainage tube is a life saving in patients with poor ASA grade with low recurrenceof abscess formation and low mortality.Keywords: Cerebral Abscess, brain abscess, aspiration of brain abscess.References
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