Treatment of Brain Abscess by Indwelling Catheter and Continuous Irrigation

Abstract

This descriptive retrospective study was performed on 14 cases of brain abscess treated by indwelling catheter and irrigation with normal saline plus amikacin (20 mcg/ml) at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital during November 1, 1989 - July 11, 1998. The objective of the study was to establish the indication, operative technique, precaution in the procedure and the result of the treatment in these 14 cases. Ten cases with large abscess diameters (mean 4.9 cm) were successfully treated with this method without excision of the abscess capsule. Three of four cases with smaller abscess diameters (mean 3.7 cm) had draining tube obstruction before obtaing the clear fluid. All of the abscess capsules were excised. There was no abscess remained in the excised capsule cavity. The remaining case had daughter abscess that failed to drain with the larger cavity and was excised with the empty abscess capsule.