Turkish Neurosurgery 2016 , Vol 26 , Num 1
Surgery for Pyogenic Brain Abscess over 30 Years: Evaluation of the Roles of Aspiration and Craniotomy
Yavuz ARAS1, Pulat Akın SABANCI1, Nail IZGI1, Osman BOYALI1, Onur OZTURK1, Aydin AYDOSELI1, Achmet ALI2, Altay SENCER1, Kemal HEPGUL1, Faruk UNAL1, Orhan BARLAS1
1Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul, Turkey
2Istanbul University, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Anesthesiology, Istanbul, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.15099-15.1 AIM: To evaluate the roles of craniotomy and aspiration in the treatment of pyogenic brain abscess throughout 30 years of computerized tomography.

MATERIAL and METHODS: A retrospective study of 224 patients who were surgically treated at Istanbul Medical Faculty, Department of Neurosurgery between 1982 and 2012 was undertaken. The records were analyzed for demographic, clinical and radiological findings, surgical interventions (resection, free-hand aspiration and image-guided aspiration), data regarding abscesses (etiological factors, site, size, number, localization and identified microorganism), corticosteroid and antibiotic usage and complications, and the outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 2.2, and the mean age was 26.2±1.25 years. The most common presenting symptom was headache (56.7%), followed by nausea and vomiting (28.5%). Otitis media and mastoiditis were the most common causes of abscess (41.9%), and 44 patients had multiple abscesses. Aerobic gram-positive microorganisms were the most frequently isolated pathogens in culture (51.5%). Primary surgical interventions were as follows: craniotomy and resection (38.8%), free-hand aspiration (49.1%) and image-guided aspiration (12.1%). The aspiration-to-resection ratio was 1.36 (64/47) in the first decade, 2.94 (50/17) in the second decade and 1 (23/23) in the last decade. Age, level of consciousness at the time of admission and potent corticosteroid usage were found to be significantly associated with mortality (p=0.001, p≤0.001 and p=0,038, respectively). The total morbidity and mortality ratios were 4.9% and 9.8%, respectively. Seizures were more common in patients of craniotomy group (p=0.023).

CONCLUSION: Treatment of pyogenic brain abscess remains challenging, despite advances in surgical and imaging technology, and craniotomy retains a significant role in surgical treatment. Keywords : Pyogenic brain abscess, Computerized tomography, Surgical treatment, Aspiration, Resection

Corresponding author : Yavuz Aras, dryavuzaras@yahoo.com