Authors: Jordi PérezBovet Roser GarciaArmengol Maria BuxóPujolràs Nadia LoriteDíaz Yislenz NarváezMartínez José Luis CaroCardera Jordi RimbauMuñoz Mª Carme JolyTorta Marina CastellvíJoan Secundino MartínFerrer
Publish Date: 2012/04/28
Volume: 154, Issue: 9, Pages: 1717-1724
Abstract
We reviewed all the cases of viral and bacterial encephalitis treated with decompressive craniectomy reported in the literature We also present one case from our institution These data were analyzed to determine the relation between clinical and epidemiological variables and outcome in surgically treated patientsOf 48 patients 39 8125 had a favorable functional recovery and 9 1875 had a negative course Only two patients 4 died after surgical treatment A statistically significant association was found between diagnosis viral and bacterial encephalitis and outcome GOS in surgically treated patients Viral encephalitis usually caused by herpes simplex virus HSV has a more favorable outcome 923 with GOS 4 or 5 than bacterial encephalitis 562 with GOS 4 or 5Based on this literature review we consider that due to the specific characteristics of infectious encephalitis especially in case of viral infection decompressive craniectomy is probably an effective treatment when brain stem compression threatens the course of the disease In patients with viral encephalitis better prognosis can be expected when surgical decompression is used than when only medical treatment is provided
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