Application of Navigation in the Treatment of Otogenic Brain Abscess

• Main Authors: Borucki, L., Szyfter, W., Kruk-Zagajewska, A., Bartochowska, A.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2193-6331; 2193-634X
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1314406

Introduction: Otogenic brain abscesses still pose a challenge for today's laryngology. Even though they seem to occur more rarely than before, they still can be the reason behind a patient's death. Purpose: To present the possibilities and advantages offered by the application of navigation in the treatment of otogenic brain abscess. Materials and Methods: Since 1953, 103 patients have been operated on due to otogenic brain abscess. In 2009, navigation was introduced as an intraoperative element to improve the efficiency of emptying the abscess and to reduce the intraoperative injury of brain tissue. Since then, five patients have had a brain abscess removed by means of that tool. Results: Four patients had their abscess removed with the transmastoidal method, and in one case the abscess was accessed through the middle fossa approach. No postoperative treatment complications have been observed. In one case, the abscess was removed three times with the application of this method at weekly intervals. Navigation enables us to inject precisely in the right place and to keep the needle in the abscess center allowing for its even removal. Conclusions: Case morbidity percentage with regard to patients suffering from a brain abscess has recently gone down. Thanks to navigation, we are able to locate the abscess more easily. With the application of computer-assisted surgery, the risk of the infection spreading due to ineffective abscess injection is down and so is the risk of injury of the brain tissue around the abscess.