Experience with 'open evacuation of pus' in the treatment of intracerebral abscess.

Twenty-seven of 29 consecutive patients with brain abscess were treated by 'open evacuation of pus'. This technique involves wide exposure of the brain so that the abscess capsule may be incised and cleared of pus under direct vision. The empty capsule is left in situ after antibiotic irrigation and the wound is closed without drainage. Of the 27 patients, one died (3.7%), two were partly disabled and 24 (88.9%) were left with no neurological disability caused by the abscess. In only one case was a further operation required to remove pus which had reformed after an adequate primary clearance. There were no cases of wound sepsis or of late recurrence of the abscess. The author believes that 'open evacuation of pus' is the most satisfactory surgical technique for an intracerebral abscess.