Asymptomatic brain abscess as a complication of halo orthosis: Report of a case and review of the literature

The halo external orthosis has been used extensively for cervical immobilization after spine surgery or trauma, usually without serious complications. However, nine brain abscesses have been reported as complications following the use of halo orthosis. We report on a 53-year-old man who underwent anterior cervical fusion for cervical myelopathy, followed by the application of a halo orthosis. Approximately 4 weeks postfusion, loosening of the right anterior pin was recognized and the pin was tightened, as the pin-site was clean. One week later, purulent material was discharged from the pin hole when the pin was removed after it had loosened again. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) demonstrated an abscess on the right side of the brain. After the administration of antibiotics, the abscess resolved without surgical intervention. We describe asymptomatic brain abscess complicating the use of a halo orthosis and review the clinical features, symptoms, and outcomes; we also discuss the mechanism that induced brain abscess. Most reported cases of abscess have been associated with pin-site infection or tightening after late pin loosening. The present case indicates the importance of early recognition of symptoms and signs associated with brain abscess in patients with a halo orthosis. Received for publication on June 22, 1998; accepted on Aug. 28, 1998     

Successful treatment of descending necrotizing mediastinitis

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a fatal disease that is caused by a cervical or odontogenical infection spreading downward to the mediastinum through anatomical cervical spaces. The mortality rate of DNM is still high. We have experience of 2 cases of DNM. In case 1 patient, a cervical abscess expanded to the esophageal hiatus through the superior and posterior mediastinum. A right minithoracotomy on the triangle of auscultation was performed with a thoracoscope in order to dissect the necrotic materials and drain the abscess. In case 2 patient, a left second costal cartilage resection was performed to approach the anterior mediastinal abscess. Both patients recovered well.     

一期后位切开挂线左右侧切开引流手术治疗高位马蹄型肛周脓肿的临床疗效观察

目的探讨一期后位切开挂线左右侧切开引流术治疗高位马蹄型肛周脓肿的临床疗效。方法对1998年1月至2004年10月收治的77例高位马蹄型肛周脓肿患者随机分成两组,治疗组46例采用一期后位切开挂线左右侧切开引流术,对照组31例采用一期切开挂线术,观察两组在创面水肿、愈合时间及肛门畸形等方面的差异。结果治疗组一期治愈44例,治愈率95.6%,对照组一期治愈30例,治愈率96.7%,随访2年无复发。两组治愈率比较,差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）。治疗组在创面水肿、愈合时间及肛门畸形方面均优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论一期后位切开挂线左右侧切开引流术治疗高位马蹄型肛周脓肿能达到一期治愈的目的 ,具有疗程短、损伤小、无畸形等优点。     

直肠手术后难治性盆腔脓肿6例诊治体会

目的 探讨一种特殊的直肠手术后难治性盆腔脓肿的临床特点及治疗方法。方法 回顾性分析2011年10月至2016年2月首都医科大学附属北京朝阳医院普外科（5例）和北京潞河医院普外科（1例）收治的共6例直肠手术后难治性盆腔脓肿病人的临床资料。结果 4例病人行肠造口手术,并经多次手术清除感染组织后治愈;1例经治疗后行造口还纳,盆腔感染复发,再次行造口及清创手术,未愈;1例暂时经直肠吻合口漏行盆腔感染清创换药,未愈。结论 此类直肠手术后难治性盆腔脓肿较既往常见类型存在病史时间长、合并症多、治疗方法复杂、迁延不易愈合、预后较差等特点。因此,直肠手术中,在盆腔没有活动出血的情况下,尽量避免不必要的预防性止血纱布填塞或其他止血材料置入,可能为预防这种难治性盆腔脓肿的关键所在。     

Brodie脓肿诊疗体会

目的探讨Brodie脓肿的发病原因及治疗方法。方法对26例Brodie脓肿患者根据病史资料、临床表现、X线及CT检查进行手术清除脓液及肉芽,凿除硬化骨治疗。结果细菌培养金黄色葡萄糖菌6例,白色葡萄球菌5例,余无细菌生长。26例随访6-12个月,X线及CT复查病灶逐渐消失,脓肿均未复发。结论Brodie脓肿的病因与外伤有密切关系。治疗方法首选病灶清除术。     

婴幼儿肛周脓肿治疗体会(17例报告)

目的提供婴儿和幼儿肛周脓肿的外科治疗经验。方法回顾分析2010年7月至2016年12月在我院接受治疗的2岁以下婴幼儿肛周脓肿患儿的病例特点、处理方式及预后情况。结果共收集婴幼儿肛周脓肿病例17例,全部为男性患儿,16例行肛周脓肿切开引流+瘘管切开+内口破坏,患儿全部治愈且无复发、感染及肛门失禁等并发症;1例行单纯脓肿穿刺引流术后复发,并形成复杂肛瘘。结论婴幼儿肛周脓肿以男性患儿居多,脓肿切开引流、瘘管切开以及内口破坏是促进愈合、减少复发的重要步骤。     

Endoscopic treatment of pituitary abscess: two case reports and literature review

Pituitary abscess is a rare entity and the correct diagnosis is still difficult before surgery. More than 210 cases have been reported in the medical literature, mostly in the form of isolated case reports. We report two cases of pituitary abscess treated endoscopically and we review the literature. A 30-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man were admitted with a history of pituitary dysfunction. Patient 1 presented with polyuria, polydipsia, amenorrhea, headache, and visual impairment. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic intra- and supra-sellar lesion with ring enhancement after contrast injection. Patient 2 presented with frontal headache, proptosis, painful ophthalmoplegia, visual impairment, and fever. Eight years before the patient had undergone a transphenoidal surgery for Prolactinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a sellar lesion extending into the cavernous sinus and carotid artery bilaterally. Both patients underwent endoscopic transnasal-transsphenoidal exploration. Intraoperative diagnosis of pituitary abscess was made. The postoperative courses were uneventful. Antibiotic therapy was performed in both cases. Only three cases of endoscopic treatment of pituitary abscess have been reported in the literature. We recommend early management by endoscopic transphenoidal surgery for pituitary abscess: this technique is safe, with minimal blood loss, short operating time, low morbidity, and brief hospital stay.     

Surgical treatment of an abscess in a rathke's cleft cyst

An abscess in a Rathke's cleft cyst was surgically treated in a 39-year-old man. The patient presented with headaches, fever, and visual deficits. Transcranial decompression of the optic chiasm was carried out first. The abscess recurred, however, and drainage of the abscess and removal of its wall via the transsphenoidal route was carried out 4 weeks later. Visual evoked responses were useful in the successful management of this lesion. The patient regained normal pituitary function and visual function after the operation.     

Late Perforation and Abscess Formation at the Site of the Jejunojejunal Anastomosis Following Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery

Late complications involving the site of the jejunojejunal (J-J) anastomosis are uncommon after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. We present a case of a perforation at the J-J anastomosis complicated by the formation of an abscess 6 months after surgery. Following clinical and radiological evaluation, the patient underwent an exploratory laparoscopy which had to be converted to an open technique because of technical difficulties. The abscess was drained, the anastomosis was resected, and a new anastomosis was undertaken. When the surgical specimen was inspected, a perforation was found at the site of the previous J-J anastomosis. The patient had an uneventful recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the formation of an abscess due to a perforation at the site of the J-J anastomosis after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. This complication, although rare, should be taken into account in patients with abdominal pain and systemic inflammatory response syndrome after bariatric surgery. No commercial interests to disclose.     

人工心脏瓣膜心内膜炎的外科治疗

目的 总结人工心脏瓣膜心内膜炎(PVE)的外科治疗。方法 1990年至2003年8月，手术治疗PVE病人21例，其中亚急性16例，急性5例。血细菌培养阳性13例。心脏超声检查主动脉瓣瓣周漏6例，二尖瓣瓣周漏3例，主动脉瓣区赘生物3例，二尖瓣区5例。应用机械瓣再次手术行二尖瓣置换11例，主动脉瓣置换10例，同期行升主动脉假性瘤切除和主动脉修补成形1例。术中均见有赘生物；二尖瓣环脓肿7例，瓣周脓肿3例；主动脉瓣环脓肿8例，瓣周脓肿4例。结果术后早期死亡5例，其中3例死于感染复发，2例死于多脏器功能衰竭；晚期死亡1例。随访4个月至13年，1例PVE再发，内科治疗无效，死亡。结论及时诊断PVE，正确掌握手术时机，彻底清除感染组织和围术期应用大剂量敏感抗生素，是提高PVE手术效果的关键。     

三七血伤宁散纱条应用于肛周脓肿术后换药疗效观察

目的探讨三七血伤宁散纱条应用于肛周脓肿术后换药的临床疗效。方法肛周脓肿根治术后,试验组采用三七血伤宁散纱条局部创面引流,对照组采用凡士林纱条局部创面引流,观察比较两组疗效。结果试验组甲级愈合率为97.1%,对照组甲级愈合率为91.6%。两组疼痛渗血持续时间及创口愈合时间差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。结论三七血伤宁散纱条能止血镇痛、祛淤生新,对肛周脓肿术后创面愈合具有良好的促进作用。     

经脐入路腹腔镜手术的初步临床报告

目的探讨经脐入路内镜手术(transumbilical endoscopic surgery,TUES)的临床应用。探索操作更为简单、安全的腹壁无瘢痕手术入路。方法13例分别实施TUES肝囊肿开窗引流(1例)、腹腔探查(1例)、阑尾切除(5例)和胆囊切除术(6例)。3例用上消化道内镜及其器械完成,10例用三通道套管技术及其改良的器械完成。结果13例TUES手术均获成功。无中转常规腹腔镜或开腹手术。6例胆囊切除手术时间90~150min,5例阑尾切除手术时间15~40min,1例用普通内镜完成的肝囊肿开窗引流术手术时间90min,1例腹腔探查为膀胱周围腹膜挫伤,电凝止血,手术时间50min。无出血、胆漏等并发症发生。除脐部皱褶部位外,基本无可见的腹壁瘢痕。结论经脐入路内镜手术操作简单、安全,技术上是可行的。TUES胆囊切除难度仍较大,在开展TUES手术初期应慎重选择病例。     

Lumbosacral spinal epidural abscess caused by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brucella melitensis</Emphasis>

Summary Spinal epidural abscess is a rare condition that can lead to irreversible complications and death if untreated. Rarely, Brucella melitensis may produce spondylodiscitis, which may be complicated by spinal epidural abscess. We report a case of lumbosacral spinal epidural abscess caused by Brucella melitensis. Spinal brucellosis should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of low back pain.     

腹腔镜阑尾切除术后再手术原因分析

目的 分析腹腔镜阑尾炎手术后再手术的原因,探讨腹腔镜阑尾炎手术中应注意的事项.方法 2003年5月~2013年3月,发生11例腹腔镜阑尾切除术后再手术.急性阑尾炎10例,慢性阑尾炎1例.再手术原因：腹腔脓肿4例,回盲部肿瘤1例,腹腔大出血并休克1例,腹膜后血肿1例,小肠漏1例,肠粘连1例,盆腔炎1例,胰腺炎1例.经保守治疗无效,8例行腹腔镜探查,3例开腹探查.结果 二次手术均成功.腹腔脓肿4例行腹腔镜脓肿清洗引流,腹腔大出血并休克1例行腹腔镜探查腹壁下动脉结扎,肠粘连1例行腹腔镜探查粘连带松解,盆腔炎1例行腹腔镜盆腔冲洗引流＋抗感染治疗,胰腺炎1例行腹腔镜胰腺被膜打开胰腺周围置管引流;小肠漏1例行腹腔镜探查＋开腹小肠肠管部分切除吻合术,腹膜后血肿1例行开腹探查阑尾动脉结扎,回盲部肿瘤1例行开腹右半结肠切除术（病理高分化腺癌）.术后7~21天痊愈出院.结论 腹腔镜下阑尾切除术后再手术的原因为：术前术中漏诊、误诊;术中脓液清洗不彻底,术后引流不通畅致腹腔脓肿形成;术中操作不规范,致腹壁下血管、阑尾动脉出血.腹腔镜阑尾切除术应注意规范操作,术中应探查仔细,防止漏诊、误诊.     

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the preoperative assessment of brain abscesses

BACKGROUND

Diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) has recently shown promise in differentiating ring-enhancing lesions such as brain abscess and malignant neoplasm. The ability of DWI to strongly suggest brain abscess enables a neurosurgeon to alter stereotactic planning to optimize diagnosis. We report our experience with DWI in 5 patients with lesions on MR imaging and review the literature to assess the usefulness of this technique in the preoperative evaluation of cerebral abscess.

METHODS

The MR images of 5 patients presenting with ring-enhancing lesions that ultimately proved to be brain abscesses were retrospectively reviewed. In addition to standard MR sequences, trace DWI and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) calculations were performed on all patients. Additionally, 15 recently published articles or references in press concerning DWI in cerebral abscesses were reviewed.

RESULTS

All lesions were markedly hyperintense on DWI and had diminished ADC. Thirty-eight of 39 previously reported abscesses were hyperintense on DWI with reduced ADC. Of 165 nonpyogenic lesions with DWI findings, 87 were hypointense or isointense, 78 lesions had variable hyperintensities, and few manifested the degree of hyperintensity observed with abscesses. Most of these included chordomas and epidermoids, which are not likely to be confused with abscesses.

CONCLUSIONS

Restricted water diffusion, as indicated by hyperintensity on DWI and low ADC, in ring-enhancing lesions assists in differentiating brain abscess from necrotic tumor. This information facilitates stereotactic surgical planning: abscesses should be preferentially centrally aspirated, whereas necrotic brain tumors should have diagnostic tissue biopsied from cavity walls. Although not definitive for brain abscess, restricted water diffusion is an important MR imaging sign and is useful in neurosurgical treatment strategies for ring-enhancing lesions.     

Aspergillus pituitary abscess

Summary Background. Pituitary abscess is rare and most of the cases are of bacterial origin. True fungal pituitary abscess is extremely rare only five cases have been reported. In this report, we present a case of aspergillus pituitary abscess. Mortality rate in intracranial aspergillosis is close to 100% especially in immunsuppressed patients when undiagnosed and untreated. In focal CNS aspergillosis total cure can be achieved in approximately 30% of the cases by surgical drainage and intensive antifungal therapy. Although this is the first reported case with magnetic resonance imaging examination the definitive diagnosis was established only by histopathological examinationClinical presentation. A 42 year-old man was referred to our hospital with the diagnosis of sellar suprasellar mass accompanied by frontal headache and decreased visual acuity. His medical history was insignificant. Physical examination was normal and the patient was afebrile. The neurological examination revealed bilateral papilledema and bitemporal hemianopsia but no stiff neck and motor or sensory deficit. In the light of MRI examination, the preoperative diagnosis was pituitary abscess secondary to paranasal sinus infection or hemorrhagic pituitary adenoma.Intervention. The patient was successfully treated by transsphenoidal surgery. Histopathological examination of sphenoid sinus mucosa revealed normal mucosal appearence with inflammation and histopathological examination of the intrasellar mass resulted in the diagnosis of aspergillosis. All cultures obtained from sphenoid sinus were reported as having no growth. However in the second week after the operation fungal culture of the intrasellar mass grew aspergillus. After 8 weeks of amphothericine-B treatment, the patient was discharged. At the last follow up examination two years after the operation, the patient was symptom free with normal pituitary function.Conclusion. Aspergillus pituitary abscess should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a pituitary mass. The correct diagnosis of pituitary aspergillosis can only be achieved by histopathological examination because clinical and radiological findings including MRI are not specific and culture results are obtained later. Immediately after the diagnosis, intensive antifungal therapy should be started for a successful treatment.     

Pancreatic abscess: 10 years experience

Background: Secondary infections of pancreatic and peripancreatic necrosis account for most of the deaths following acute pancreatitis. These infections occur in the form of ‘infected pancreatic necrosis’ and ‘pancreatic abscess’. The latter is a rare complication of acute pancreatitis in comparison with the former. Methods: Twenty‐one patients with pancreatic abscess were managed over a 10‐year period at a tertiary care centre in Northern India. The present report details the clinical profile, investigations performed and management strategy (surgery and intervention radiology) of these patients. The role of surgery and percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) in the management of pancreatic abscess is discussed, with emphasis on the successful outcome seen in a properly selected group of patients managed by PCD. Results: Of the 21 patients, 12 were managed by percutaneous intervention, nine were managed surgically (of these, two had a prior PCD) and two patients were managed conservatively. The overall mortality was 9.5% (2/21). Thus, percutaneous management was suitable for 57% patients, was successful in 83.3%, with a mortality of 8.3%. Surgical therapy alone was offered to 33% of patients, was successful in 85.7%, with a mortality of 14.2%. Complications were seen in four of the nine patients managed by percutaneous drainage alone and eight of the nine patients managed surgically. Conclusions: Pancreatic abscess is a potentially lethal complication in patients recovering from acute pancreatitis. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention with careful selection of patients based on computed tomography imaging for surgical or percutaneous radio­logical management, is met with a successful outcome in a majority of patients. The roles of surgery and PCD are complementary.     

Liver hilar abscesses secondary to gastrointestinal perforation by ingested fish bones: surgical management of two cases

Several hepatobiliary complications secondary to gastrointestinal perforation after ingestion of a fish bone have been described in the literature, the most common being liver abscess, which can be potentially fatal. Treatment involves removal of the foreign body if possible (endoscopically or surgically), drainage of the abscess (radiologically or surgically), and appropriate antibiotic therapy. To our knowledge, no cases of hepatic hilar abscesses secondary to gastrointestinal perforation by a fish bone have been described in the literature. We report surgical management of two cases of abscess localized in the hepatic hilum secondary to the ingestion of fish bones.     

腹腔镜超声在腹腔镜肝胆手术中的应用

目的探讨腹腔镜超声在腹腔镜肝胆手术中的应用价值。方法腹腔镜下肝切除、肝囊肿开窗及复杂胆囊切除等手术156例,手术中应用腹腔镜超声进行辅助检查,了解手术解剖入路结构及肿瘤分期。结果在19例肝切除及39例肝囊肿开窗手术中,腹腔镜超声在手术中标示重要肝内及肝外管道的走向及指导切除,在15例复杂胆囊切除中指导精确定位及进一步辨别可疑恶性占位。结论腹腔镜超声能够在腹腔镜肝胆外科手术中进行准确定位、指导治疗,对解决腹腔镜手术中外科医生触觉反馈减弱问题,提高手术效果有一定临床价值。     

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis secondary to retropharyngeal abscess without cervical spread

Cervical infections can cause neck phlegmonosa and occasionally develop lethal mediastinitis. We report a 52-year-old man with a retropharyngeal abscess causing descending mediastinis without cervical spread. Thoracoscopic drainage without cervicotomy was successful. Deep neck infections causing a descending mediastinitis should be considered in patients even without an abnormal neck appearance.