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Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Intracerebral Hemorrhage Evacuation
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Published on: October 15, 2021

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REPRINTED FROM THE 2023 HYPERBARIC INDICATIONS MANUAL 15th Edition:Intracranial Abscess

Edward O Tomoye, Carrie L Park, Lind Folke

    Undersea & Hyperbaric Medicine : Journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc
    |January 17, 2025
    PubMed

    Insights

    Intracranial abscesses, including cerebral, subdural, and epidural empyema, often stem from nearby infections, trauma, or bloodstream spread. Understanding these causes is key for effective diagnosis and treatment of brain infections.

    Area of Science:

    • Neurology
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Neurosurgery

    Background:

    • Intracranial abscesses (ICAs) encompass cerebral abscess, subdural empyema, and epidural empyema.
    • These conditions share common diagnostic, therapeutic, and etiological characteristics.
    • ICAs can arise from contiguous infections, hematogenous seeding, or cranial trauma.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To outline the common etiologies and predisposing factors for intracranial abscesses.
    • To highlight the diagnostic and therapeutic similarities among different types of ICAs.
    • To provide a foundational understanding of brain infection origins.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of existing literature on intracranial abscesses.
    • Analysis of etiological pathways including contiguous spread, hematogenous seeding, and trauma.
    • Identification of common predisposing factors such as immunosuppression and adjacent infections.

    Main Results:

    • Contiguous spread from infections (sinusitis, otitis, dental) accounts for 30-50% of ICAs.
    • Hematogenous spread is implicated in approximately one-third of cases.
    • Predisposing factors include HIV, immunosuppressive therapy, surgery, and systemic infections.

    Conclusions:

    • Intracranial abscesses have diverse origins, with contiguous spread being a primary cause.
    • Recognizing predisposing factors is crucial for identifying at-risk individuals.
    • A comprehensive approach is needed for the diagnosis and management of these serious brain infections.

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