Subdural Empyema Overview

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What is the most immediate consequence of subdural empyema?

Thrombophlebitis of cortical veins

Meningitis

Nuchal rigidity

Increased intracranial pressure (correct)

What is the typical gender distribution of subdural empyema cases?

At least two-thirds of cases occur in men (correct)

Equal between men and women

More common in women

At least two-thirds of cases occur in women

Which imaging modality is crucial for diagnosing subdural empyema?

CT scan (correct)

MRI

Ultrasound

X-ray

What accounts for many of the clinical features in subdural empyema cases?

Swelling, necrosis, and infarction of the cortex Signup and view all the answers

Which symptom is often the earliest and most persistent in patients with subdural empyema?

Severe headache Signup and view all the answers

What can a barely detectable thin layer of subdural pus cause in subdural empyema cases?

Seizures Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between survival and level of consciousness in patients with subdural empyema?

Higher level of consciousness leads to better survival outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What can develop in neonates as a complication of meningitis?

Subdural empyema Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes uninfected subdural collections that develop after meningitis?

Effusions Signup and view all the answers

What are subdural collections called if they contain evident bacteria upon direct examination?

Empyemas Signup and view all the answers

What causes the formation of epidural abscess?

Bone erosion due to cholesteatoma Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used for the condition where a collection of fluid develops in the subdural space following H.influenzae meningitis?

Effusion Signup and view all the answers

Which neurological deficit is common in patients with left-sided subdural empyema?

Aphasia Signup and view all the answers

What is a common finding in the CT scan of a well-developed subdural empyema?

Crescent-shaped low-density pus collection Signup and view all the answers

Which type of seizures are common in patients with subdural empyema?

Jacksonian seizures Signup and view all the answers

Why is lumbar puncture contraindicated in patients with suspected subdural empyema?

It can precipitate transtentorial coning with elevated intracranial pressure Signup and view all the answers

What clinical feature is commonly observed in patients with posterior fossa collections of subdural empyema?

Marked neck stiffness Signup and view all the answers

When should a clinician consider obtaining a contrast-enhanced MRI study in a patient suspected of having subdural empyema?

When focal signs are absent and the CT scan appears normal early in the course of the disease Signup and view all the answers