Treatment Outcome of Superficial Cerebral Abscess: An Analysis of Two Surgical Methods
- Author:
Wei Ming Tan
;
Johari Siregar Adnan
;
Mohamad Saffari Mohamad Haspani
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
burr hole aspiration cerebral abscess, craniotomy excision, neurosciences
- From:Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences
2010;17(1):23-29
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background: The purpose of the study is to compare the two surgical methods (burr hole
and craniotomy) used as treatment for superficial cerebral abscess and its outcome in terms of
radiological clearance on brain CT, improvement of neurological status, the need for repeated
surgery, and survival and morbidity at three months after surgery. This report is a retrospective case
review of the patients who were treated surgically for superficial cerebral abscess in Hospital Kuala
Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Sultanah Aminah (HSA) over a period of four years (2004 to 2007).
Methods: Fifty-one cases were included in this study: 64.7% of patients were male and
35.5% were female. Most of the patients were Malay (70.6%); 28 patients (54.9%) had undergone
craniotomy and excision of abscess, and the rest had undergone burr hole aspiration as their first
surgical treatment.
Results: This study reveals that patients who had undergone craniotomy and excision of
abscess showed a significantly earlier improvement in neurological function, better radiological
clearance and lower rate of re-surgery as compared to the burr hole aspiration group (P<0.05).
However, with respect to neurological improvement at 3 months, morbidity and mortality, there is
no significant difference between the two surgical methods.
Conclusion: The significance of these findings can only be confirmed by a prospective
randomised series. Further study will be required to assess the cost effectiveness, intensive care
needs, and possibility of shorter antibiotic usage as compared to burr hole aspiration.
- Full text:W020151022421766597522.pdf
