Abstract
Introduction: Intracranial subdural empyema (ISDE) is a life-threatening intracranial infection.
Early and precise detection, timely surgery, and appropriate antibiotic therapy are
the keys to a more favorable clinical outcome. Treatment is aimed at complete evacuation
of the empyema and eradication of the source of infection. However, in the case of
elderly patients or patients with poor health, doctors hesitate to perform open cranial
surgery under general anesthesia; thus, the choice of appropriate surgical method
is fraught with many limitations.
Case Report: We present a case of ISDE in a 92-year-old woman who was successfully treated with
continuous irrigation of the subdural space with antibiotics and drainage through
2 burr holes for 1 week without any complications.
Conclusion: Continuous subdural irrigation is useful for the evacuation of pus and eradication
of the source of infection, thereby resulting in a favorable outcome, especially in
elderly patients and patients with poor health.
Key words
intracranial subdural empyema - continuous irrigation - old age
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Correspondence
T. Y. KimMD, PhD
Department of Neurosurgery
Wonkwang University School of
Medicine
344–2 Shinyong-dong
Iksan 570–749
Korea
Phone: +82/63/859 1462
Fax: +82/63/852 2606
Email: tykim@wonkwang.ac.kr
