Outcome of burr-hole aspiration of brain abscess

Objective: To determine the clinical outcome of burr-hole aspiration of brain abscess

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Methods: We analyzed 100 cases of intracranial abscess, treated surgically from January 2015 and October 2016 at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre [JPMC]. All patients were treated with burr hole aspiration. Medical records were analyzed for demographics, clinical presentation, predisposing factors, abscess location on imaging and clinical outcomes were charted

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Results: The study included 100 patients with 73 [73%] males and 27[27%] females with a mean age of 36.69+10.96 years. Mean duration of signs and symptoms was 8.50+/-4.2 days. The most common presenting complaint was altered sensorium in 70 [70%] patients and commonest source of infection was otitis media een in 27 patients [27%]. The GCS on presentation was 13 in 57 [57%] cases. The parietal region was the most common site in 43 patients [43%], followed by frontal region in 33 patients [33%].Complete resolution of abscess with recovery of preoperative neuro-deficit was seen in 77 [77%] patients and recovery with major neuro-deficit was observed in 10 [10%] cases while 13 [13%] patients expired

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Conclusion: Early diagnosis, optimum follow-up and timely burr-hole aspiration are the keys in the proper management of brain abscess