A Case of Parietooccipital Subdural Empyema After Spinal Anesthesia
1University of Health Sciences Turkey, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital, Clinic of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, İstanbul, Turkey
2University of Health Sciences Turkey, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital, Clinic of Neurosurgery, İstanbul, Turkey
Eur Arch Med Res 2020; 36(3): 222-225 DOI: 10.4274/eamr.galenos.2019.16870
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Abstract

Subdural empyema represents a loculated suppuration between the dura and the arachnoid. It has been described either intracranially or in the spinal canal and the latter localization is quite rare. It is a rare but serious disease with a decreasing mortality rate but rather common neurological sequelae. A high index of suspicion along with its typical clinical presentation such as headache, seizures, or focal neurologic signs can lead to early diagnosis so that effective treatment can be administered as soon as possible. Advances in the diagnosis and treatment of brain abscess and subdural empyema with neuroimaging techniques such as computerized tomography, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR spectroscopy, the availability of new antimicrobials, and the development of novel surgical techniques have significantly contributed to the decreased morbidity and mortality associated these infections. Morbidity and mortality in intracranial and spinal subdural empyema are directly associated with the delay in administration of treatment. Both conditions should, thus, be treated with great urgency. In this case, we aimed to underline the possibility of intracranial subdural empyema occurence after spinal anaesthesia.