Brain abscesses: review of 30 cases treated with surgery

Thirty patients with brain abscesses who were treated at the Department of Neurosurgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, during the period July 1989 to July 1993, were reviewed. There were seven females and 23 males with mean follow up duration of 19 months. The predisposing factors identified were otogenic infections in 10 cases (33%), paranasal sinus infection in 2 cases (7%) and congenital heart disease in 6 cases (20%). All cases underwent aspiration or excision of the abscess. Repeat operations were carried out if the abscess reaccumulated. A total of 49 aspirations and 16 excisions were performed. Twenty-five patients (84%) made a good recovery, three patients (10%) were moderately disabled, one patient (3%) was severely disabled and one patient (3%) died. There was no postoperative haemorrhage or wound infections. Two patients (7%) developed hydrocephalus and three (10%) had seizures postoperatively.