[Purulent meningitis after minor nasosinus surgery. Apropos of 10 cases]

Purulent meningitis developed during the immediate or late postoperative period in 10 patients undergoing minor surgical procedures for nasosinusal affections. An important point is that the meningeal infection may be a very late onset complication, the osteodural gap sometimes giving rise to several attacks of meningitis at unexpected times. Treatment should be based on the presence or absence of clinical cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea, of a fracture of the anterior shelf of base of cranium on tomography, and results of isotopic scanning which are valid only if positive. Surgery to close the gap is justified when rhinorrhea persists after recovery from meningitis or when recurrent bouts are reported. Even after surgery, however, there is still the risk of further attacks of meningitis. An interesting adjuvant to treatment is by antipneumococcal vaccination.