Abstract
In order to characterize neurological, intellectual and behavioral sequelae better after surgical treatment of brain abscess in childhood, 32 children were studied over a 10-year time span after treatment of a brain abscess. Depending on the clinical condition, surgical treatment consisted of simple aspiration through a burr hole or of total excision after craniotomy. There were only 3 postoperative deaths (9%). The scheduled time for long-term follow-up was 3 years after surgery. The patient assessment included information concerning the presence of seizures, accurate neurological examination, an EEG, and a battery of intellectual tests to evaluate the presence of behavioral-mental deficits. Late seizures developed in 7 of the 29 survivors. Five patients presented permanent hemiparesis after surgical treatment. It is noteworthy that the intellectual impairment observed was more severe in younger patients, while the behavioral disturbances were more marked in school-age children.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beller AJ, Sahar A, Praiss I (1973) Brain abscess. Review of 89 cases over a period of 30 years. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 36:757–768
Benton A (1974) Revised retention test, 4th edn. Psychological Corporation, New York
Carey ME, Chou SN, French LA (1971) Long-term neurological residua in patients surviving brain abscess with surgery. J Neurosurg 34:652–656
Carey ME, Chou SN, French LA (1972) Experience with brain abscesses. J Neurosurg 36:1–9
Conel JL (1939–1959) The post-natal development of the human cerebral cortex (vols 1–4). Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Coulam CM, Seshul M, Donaldson J (1980) Intracranial ring lesion: can we differentiate by computed tomography? Invest Radiol 15:103–112
Garfield JS (1978) Brain abscess and focal suppurative infections. In: Vinker PJ, Bruyn GW (eds) Handbook of clinical neurology, vol 33: Infection of nervous system. North Holland, New York Oxford Amsterdam, p 107
Hirsch JF, Roux FX, Sant-Rose C, Renier D, Pierre-Kahn A (1983) Brain abscess in childhood. A study of 34 cases treated by puncture and antibiotics. Child's Brain 10:251–256
Kaufmann DM, Leeds NE (1977) Computed tomography (CZ) in the diagnosis of intracranial abscess. Brain abscess, sub-dural empyema and epidural empyema. Neurology (Minneap) 27:1069–1073
Legg NJ, Gupta PC, Scott DF (1973) Epilepsy following cerebral abscess: a clinical and EEG study of 70 patients. Brain 96:198–203
Morgan H, Wood MW, Murphey F (1973) Experience with 88 consecutive cases of brain abscess. J Neurosurg 38:698–704
Moussa AH, Dawson EH (1978) Computed tomography and the mortality in brain abscess. Surg Neurol 10:301–304
Nielsen H, Harmsen A, Gydenstead C (1983) Cerebral abscess. A long-term follow-up. Acta Neurol Scand 67:330–337
Northcroft GB, Wike BD (1957) Seizures following surgical treatment of intracranial abscesses: a clinical and electroencephalographic study. J Neurosurg 14:249–263
Ohaegbulam SC, Saddegi NU (1980) Experience with brain abscesses treated by simple aspiration. Surg Neurol 13:289–291
Rosenblum ML, Hoff JT, Norman D, Weinstein PR, Pitts L (1978) Decreased mortality from brain abscess since advent of computerized tomography. J Neurosurg 52:217–225
Rousseux M, Lesoin F, Destee A, Jomin M, Petit H (1985) Long-term sequelae of hemispheric abscesses as a function of the treatment. Acta Neurochir 74:61–67
Schiefer W, Klinger M (1978) Aspects of modern brain abscess diagnosis and treatment. Neurosurg Rev 1:37–45
Wechsler D (1967) Manual WPPSI: Wechsler Preschool and Primary Intelligence Scale. Psychological Corporation, New York
Wechsler D (1974) Manual WISR-R: Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children — Revised. Psychological Corporation, New York
Yakovlev PI (1967) The myelogenetic cycle of regional maturation of the brain. In: Minkowski A (ed) Regional development of the brain in the early life. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 3–70
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Buonaguro, A., Colangelo, M., Daniele, B. et al. Neurological and behavioral sequelae in children operated on for brain abscess. Child's Nerv Syst 5, 153–155 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272117
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00272117