The treatment of brain abscess and subdural empyema

The treatment of brain abscess and subdural empyema in regard to the changes in operative procedure and the indication of conservative treatment after the introduction of CT was investigated by examining the records of 34 patients treated in the past 22 years. Fifteen cases were in the pre-CT era and 19 were after the introduction of CT. There was no significant difference in age, sex, and cause between the two groups. As for the treatment, all of the patients who were treated conservatively without CT died. But with CT monitoring, some patients could be treated by only chemotherapy and its clinical results were excellent. The mean diameter of the abscess cavity in patients treated by chemotherapy only was 2.6 cm. As for the operative cases without CT, total removal of the abscess was performed in almost all of the patients and their clinical course was poor. However by detecting the exact location of the abscess with CT, aspiration or drainage of the abscess was performed and the clinical course was improved. The mean diameter of the abscess cavity in the patients treated surgically was 4.8 cm. It was concluded that it is possible to treat patients with abscesses by only chemotherapy when the diameter of the abscess cavity is samller than 3 cm, and that when the lesions are larger than 3 cm, it is advisable to aspirate or drain the abscess cavity instead of totally removing the abscess. (author)