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Textbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery pp 1–21Cite as

Empyemas and Brain Abscesses

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Abstract

Although the incidence, morbidity, and mortality of intracranial suppurative infections such as subdural empyemas and brain abscesses have diminished, without timely diagnosis and treatment, they remain life-threatening in pediatric patients. Bacterial meningitis remains a worldwide problem and a significant risk factor in the development of intracranial infections in infants. In older children, most subdural empyemas and brain abscesses arise from direct extension of otorhinological infections such as chronic otitis media and sinusitis. Treatment includes a multidisciplinary team approach, a detailed physical exam, radiographic studies, antimicrobial therapy, and surgical drainage for large, multiloculated superficial or posterior fossa infections. With the introduction of antibiotics and advancements in imaging techniques, mortality rates now range from 7% to 25%. Regardless of these innovations, however, 20–30% of children who survive intracranial suppurations go on to have seizures and permanent neurological deficits. Thus, it is imperative that timely diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment ensue considering the devastating effects of such intracranial infections. Surgical treatment and antibiotic coverage of the primary source of infection are cornerstones for successful treatment of subdural empyemas and brain abscesses in the pediatric population.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, University of Florida, College of Medicine Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Philipp R. Aldana

  2. Neurological Surgery, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA

    Kelly Gassie

Authors
  1. Philipp R. Aldana
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  2. Kelly Gassie
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philipp R. Aldana .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. International Neuroscience Institute, Hannover, Germany

    Concezio Di Rocco

  2. Oakland Medical Center, Oakland, California, USA

    Dachling Pang

  3. University of Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    James T. Rutka

Section Editor information

  1. The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, The University of Toronto, Toronto, ONT, USA

    James Thomas Rutka

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Aldana, P.R., Gassie, K. (2018). Empyemas and Brain Abscesses. In: Di Rocco, C., Pang, D., Rutka, J. (eds) Textbook of Pediatric Neurosurgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31512-6_78-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31512-6_78-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31512-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31512-6

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