OBJECTIVETo study the techniques and efficacy of neuronavigation-guided puncture and drainage in the treatment of brain abscesses.

METHODSFrom February 2006 to December 2012, 31 patients with brain abscesses treated by the technique of neuronavigation-guided puncture and drainage were retrospectively analyzed. There were 27 male and 4 female patients, age ranged from 10 months to 69 years, average (34 ± 19) years.Single brain abscesses were found in 26 patients, multiple abscesses in 5 patients. The abscesses were located in eloquent regions in 19 patients. The mean diameter of the abscess was 4.1 cm (2.5-6.7 cm). The first follow-up visit was on the first month after surgery, and if residual was observed on enhanced MRI, then the patient was followed up every 3 months until the abscess disappeared completely. After residual absorbed, the patient was followed up every year.

RESULTSIncisions of all patients were healed well and no infection. The length of hospital stay after surgery was 6-42 days, mean (14 ± 9) days. Bacterial culture of pus was performed regularly including aerobic, anaerobic and fungal culture after surgery. Thirteen patients had positive culture whereas the other 18 patients had negative culture. The duration of antibiotic use was 18-42 days, mean (22 ± 5) days. All the patients were followed up for 3 months to 3 years. Twenty-nine patients recovered well postoperatively, 1 case died 2 months after operation.One case was performed the second drainage after 10 days from the first surgery.Eighteen patients showed the improvement of neurological status within the first day following surgery, 4 patients got improvement in the next day, 1 patient with hemiplegia showed improvement in 10 days postoperatively, 1 patient with aphasia recovered gradually after 1 month, 1 patient with hemiplegia showed deterioration temporarily after surgery, and recovered gradually after 15 days.

CONCLUSIONThe technique of puncture and drainage guided by neuronavigation has many advantages to treat brain abscesses, such as small trauma, short operation time, high accuracy and safety, simple surgical procedures and good prognosis.