complications
Last reviewed 01/2018
There are local complications:
- focal neurology
- epilepsy
Wider neurological effects:
- meningitis and empyema is the abscess drains outwards
- ventriculitis is the abscess drains centrally
- raised intracranial pressure:
- mass effect
- oedema
- hydrocephalus
Systemic effects:
- septic
In addition post infection complications include:
- fibrotic tissue formation in the abscessed area
- reduction in brain tissue during surgery
- abscess rupture into the ventricular space (1)
- death(1)
References:
- 1. Tammy Kielian. Immunopathogenesis of brain abscess. Journal of Neuroinflammation 2004;1:16.