Treatment of Primary Cerebral Ventricular Abscess: Use of Dual Catheters and Ommaya Reservoir

Abstract

An isolated ventricular abscess is a rare event, and its treatment is a real challenge. We report such case in a 52-year-old man that was successfully managed with aid of occipital approach and ventricular access device. This patient presented with the chief complaint of headache and fever of 3-day duration. Magnetic resonance imaging showed fluid-filled layering within the posterior horns of the lateral ventricle without contrast enhancement. Blood test and cerebrospinal fluid analysis was consistent with acute bacterial ventriculitis. Using stereotactic technique guided by electromagnetic navigation, the occipital horns were bilaterally targeted and catheter-ized, and then the abscess and debris was evacuated. The Ommaya reservoir implanted at the left entry was intermittently punctured for preventing the recollection. The pus culture was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae . He received an antibiotic therapy and the reservoir aspiration leading to rapid recovery and remission of clinical manifestations. There was no evidence of the recurrence within the ventricles on follow-up scans after discharging. This modification, occipital approach and reservoir placement, is effective treatment for improving the cure rate in the selected cases with intraventricular cerebral empyema.