Continuous intraventricular vancomycin for treatment of ventriculitis using IRRAflow®: A case report

Background: Ventriculitis usually occurs as the result of infection and results in the inflammation of the ependymal lining of the ventricular system. Mortality rates remain high despite treatment. Case Description: We present the case of a 66-year-old man who presented with altered mental status and progressively became comatose. He was found to have fulminant ventriculitis due to a ruptured intracranial abscess. He was treated with bilateral IRRAflow® catheter (IRRAS, Stockholm, Sweden) placement through which continuous irrigation with vancomycin was initiated. Conclusion: This treatment was safe and led to improvement in the patient’s neurologic examination, imaging findings, and cerebrospinal fluid profiles.

Rapidly Progressive Complicated Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in the Setting of Severe Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Objective: This case report presents a case of a rapidly progressive complicated sinus infection in a child with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Methods: Case report with literature review. Results/Case Report: We present a novel case of severe rapidly progressive complicated sinusitis in a 14-year-old African American male diagnosed with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Infection was caused by an aggressive pathogen, Streptococcus intermedius (anginosus), and within 48 hours progressed to orbital, subgaleal, and intracranial abscess, requiring multidisciplinary intervention by ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology. Following surgical intervention and a 4-week course of intravenous antibiotic therapy, the patient had resolution of the infection with no neurologic sequelae. Conclusion: Despite the low incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, physicians should be aware that immunologic changes and the cytokine storm induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can potentially predispose patients to severe bacterial or opportunistic infections. As more cases of MIS-C develop, associated complications can become evident. Similar cases of SARS-CoV-2 and severe bacterial sinusitis have been published in the literature, but it remains unclear if there is an association between SARS-CoV-2 disease and an increased risk of complicated sinusitis in children.

Evaluation of treatment approaches for sinogenic intracranial abscess in children

Objectives: To evaluate the management practices and outcomes in children with sinogenic intracranial suppuration. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: A single paediatric tertiary unit. Participants: Patients younger than 18 years with radiologically confirmed intracranial abscess including subdural empyema (SDE), epidural (EDA) or intraparenchymal (IPA) abscess secondary to sinusitis. Main outcome measures: The rates of return to theatre, the length of hospital stay (LOS), death <90 days and neurological disability (ND) at 6 months. Results: A cohort of 39 consecutive patients (41% male, mean age 11.5) presenting between 2000-2020 were eligible for inclusion. SDE was the most common intracranial complication (n=25, 64%) followed by EDA (n=12, 31%) and IPA (n=7, 18%). The mean LOS was 42 days (SD 16). Sixteen patients (41%) were managed with combined ENT and neurosurgical interventions, 15 (38.5%) underwent ENT procedure alone and 4 (10.3%) had neurosurgical only drainage. Four patients initially underwent non-operative management. The rates of return to theatre, ND and 90-day mortality were 19 (48.7%), 9 (23.1%) and 3 (7.7%) respectively and were comparable across the four treatment arms. In the univariate logistic regression, only the size of an intracranial abscess (10mm) was found be associated with an increased likelihood of return to theatre (odds radio 7, confidence interval 1.09-45.1), while combined ENT and neurosurgical intervention did not result in improved outcomes. Conclusion: Sinogenic intracranial abscesses are associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. The size of an intracranial abscess has a strong association with a need for a revision surgery.

Osteosarcoma of the skull base presenting as a petrocavernous pseudoaneurysm and masquerading as an intracranial abscess: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) is a rare and aggressive high-grade malignant neoplasm composed of blood-filled or empty cystic spaces resembling aneurysmal bone cysts. Uncommonly, TOSs can occur in the skull base. OBSERVATIONS The authors present a case of a TOS that presented as a petrocavernous carotid pseudoaneurysm and then masqueraded as an intracranial abscess. The prognosis for TOSs with intracranial involvement is typically unfavorable and inversely related to the degree of intracranial involvement. LESSONS Skull-based malignancies should be part of the differential diagnosis for a rapidly progressing lesion. Recovery of polymicrobial organisms during endoscopic sinus surgery should prompt reconsideration of the differential diagnosis. Postinflammatory changes from endovascular coiling have been described and can confound imaging and clinical findings.

Bilateral Longus Colli Abscesses as a Complication of Advanced Bacterial Rhinosinusitis

Known complications of acute bacterial rhinosinusitis include retropharyngeal abscess, cavernous sinus thrombosis, intracranial abscess, and associated sequelae. We describe the case of a patient with longus colli abscess formation resulting from acute pansinusitis, complicated by bilateral cavernous sinus thrombosis in the setting of concurrent viral pneumonitis, severe sepsis, and a large area cerebral infarction. The bilateral longus colli abscesses were drained via stereotactic image-guided endonasal sinus surgery, yielding Staphylococcus hominis in culture. The described disease progressed rapidly over a 2-week course amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Frontal Sinus Drainage in Acute Pediatric Sinusitis With Intracranial Complications

Background The indication for frontal sinus drainage is uncertain when managing pediatric acute sinusitis with intracranial complications. Objective The primary objective was to determine if addressing the frontal sinus reduced need for subsequent surgical procedures in children presenting with acute sinusitis complicated by intracranial abscess. Methods A case series with chart review was performed at a tertiary children’s hospital between 2007 and 2019. Children under 18 years of age requiring surgery for complicated acute sinusitis that included the frontal sinus with noncontiguous intracranial abscess were included. Outcomes were compared among children for whom the frontal sinus was drained endoscopically, opened intracranially, or left undrained. Results Thirty-five children with a mean age of 11.1 years (95% CI: 9.9-12.3) met inclusion. Most presented with epidural abscess (37%). Hospitalizations lasted 12.9 days (95% CI: 10.2-15.5), 46% required a second surgery, 11% required three or more surgeries, and 31% were readmitted within 60 days. Initial surgery for 29% included endoscopic frontal sinusotomy, 34% had a frontal sinus cranialization and 37% did not have any initial drainage of the frontal sinus. Groups were similar with respect to demographics, severity of infection, need for repeat surgery, length of stay, and readmissions (p > .05). Further, persistence of cranial neuropathies, seizures, or major neurological sequelae after discharge were no different among groups (p > .05). Conclusion Drainage of the frontal sinus, when technically feasible, was not associated with reduced surgical procedures or increased complications and there is unclear benefit on measured clinical outcomes.