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Brain abscess after dilatation of esophageal stricture
1Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Pediatric Neuroscience
|January 1, 1988
Insights
Esophageal dilation can lead to brain abscesses in children. Prompt treatment offers a satisfactory prognosis for this rare complication, highlighting the need for clinical awareness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Supratentorial brain abscesses are serious infections in children.
- Esophageal dilation is a medical procedure used to treat esophageal conditions.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients under 15 developed brain abscesses following esophageal dilation.
- These cases occurred within a cohort of 40 children treated for supratentorial brain abscesses over a decade.
Findings:
- Cultures from one abscess identified Peptostreptococcus, a common bacterium found in the oropharynx.
- This suggests a potential pathway for infection from the oropharynx to the brain post-procedure.
Implications:
- Clinicians must recognize esophageal dilation as a potential risk factor for brain abscesses in pediatric patients.
- Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes in managing this complication.
Abstract:
Two children, below 15 years of age, developed brain abscesses after esophageal dilation. They were among 40 children treated for supratentorial brain abscesses during the past 10 years. Pus culture of one of the abscesses was peptostreptococcus, which is a common oropharyngeal flora. Clinicians should be aware of this complication since the prognosis is usually satisfactory after prompt treatment.