Evaluation of Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Neuroendoscopy in The Treatment of Patients with Brain Abscess

Abstract Background: Brain abscess remains a challenging clinical problem with a substantial fatality rate.Objective: The purpose of current study was to analyze the short-term efficacy and safety of neuroendoscopic therapy in patients with brain abscesses.Methods: A retrospective, uncontrolled, single-center study was conducted using a cohort of 61 patients with brain abscesses who were admitted to Renmin hospital of wuhan university between October 2016 and October 2021. The patients were divided into three groups based on the surgical approach used, including 12 cases of neuroendoscopic drainage or abscess resection, 20 cases of burr-hole drainage, and 29 cases of craniotomy abscess resection. SPSS 24.0 was used to analyze and compare clinical data, surgical efficacy, postoperative complications, and follow-up indicators. Data were compared via one-way analysis of variance and the chi-square test, and p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Compared with the burr-hole drainage group and the craniotomy group, the neuroendoscopy group had the highest rate of effective surgery (p = 0.020). In that same group the mean postoperative hospital stay was the shortest (p = 0.040), the mean total hospitalization cost was the lowest (p = 0.017), the number of intracranial complications was the lowest (p = 0.035), and the mean 28‑day follow-up Glasgow Outcome score was the highest (p = 0.046).Conclusion: Neuroendoscopic treatment of brain abscess is associated with definite curative effects, few complications, and rapid post-operative recovery, and may thus represent the optimal treatment in some patients.