Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 25, 2026
Author Spotlight: Simulating Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Using a Neonatal Piglet Model
Published on: May 26, 2023
Forgotten? Not Yet. Cardiogenic Brain Abscess in Children: A Case Series-Based Review
Suhas Udayakumaran1, Chiazor U Onyia2, R Krishna Kumar3
1Division of Paediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, India.
Insights
Congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD) in children poses a significant risk for developing brain abscesses. Surgical management of these cardiogenic brain abscesses leads to positive outcomes, emphasizing the importance of addressing CCHD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Brain abscess is a serious complication in children with uncorrected or partially palliated congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD).
- The risk of brain abscess persists even during staged corrective surgeries for CCHD.
- Limited recent literature exists on the surgical outcomes for cardiogenic brain abscess in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of pediatric patients with cardiogenic cerebral abscess.
- To emphasize the continued risk of brain abscess in children with unresolved or partially treated CCHD.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 26 pediatric patients (<19 years) with CCHD and surgically managed cerebral abscess.
- Data collection included demographics, presentation, diagnosis, abscess location, heart disease details, and management outcomes.
- Study conducted at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, India (December 2000 - January 2014).
Main Results:
- The cohort included 26 patients (16 males, 10 females) with a mean age of 7.19 years.
- 38% (10 of 26) of patients required reaspiration after initial surgery.
- All patients showed symptomatic improvement and resolution of cerebral abscess on follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Cardiogenic origin is the most common cause of cerebral abscess in children.
- Unresolved CCHD is a significant risk factor for the development, persistence, and recurrence of cerebral abscess.
Background:
Brain abscess is a significant cause of morbidity in patients with uncorrected or partially palliated congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD). Unfortunately, in the developing world, the majority of patients with CCHD remain either uncorrected or only partially palliated. Furthermore, a risk of this feared complication also exists even among those undergoing staged corrective operations in the interval in between operations. There have been no recent articles in the literature on the outcomes of surgical management of cardiogenic brain abscess in children. In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical and demographic profile of patients with cardiogenic cerebral abscess and to highlight the fact that uncorrected or palliated CCHD continue to be at risk for brain abscess.
Methods:
This study was a retrospective analysis of 26 children (age <19 years) being managed for CCHD who were diagnosed with cerebral abscess managed surgically (26 of 39 of cases cerebral abscess in children), at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, India between December 2000 and January 2014. Data collected retrospectively included demographic information, modes of presentation, diagnosis, location of abscess, details of the underlying heart disease, management of the cerebral abscess, and outcomes of management.
Results:
The patient cohort comprised 26 patients (16 males and 10 females), with a mean age of 7.19 years (range, 1.5-19 years). Ten of the 26 patients (38%) required reaspiration after the initial surgery. On follow-up, all the patients had improved symptomatically and demonstrated no signs of cerebral abscess.
Conclusions:
Cardiogenic origin of cerebral abscess is the most common cause of cerebral abscess in children. Unresolved CCHD is a risk factor for the occurrence, persistence, and recurrence of cerebral abscess.
