Intracranial Abscess

An intracranial abscess is a closed collection of pus and infection somewhere within the skull.

Hyperbaric Oyxgen Therapy (HBOT) is recognised to be a useful alongside the treatment provided in the hospital, i.e. antibiotics, neurosurgery and possibly intensive care involvement. However this only applies to some patients; it is not offered as standard and each case is carefully reviewed to decide if worthwhile.

Studies have shown better survival rates in those with multiple abscesses, in a deep location in immunocompromised patients and where surgery is contraindicated or there has been failure of standard treatments.

Further information regarding the Referral and Funding process can be found here.

References

Bartek J Jr, Jakola AS, Skyrman S, Förander P, Alpkvist P, Schechtmann G, Glimåker M, Larsson A, Lind F, Mathiesen T. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in spontaneous brain abscess patients: a population-based comparative cohort study. Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2016 Jul;158(7):1259-67. doi: 10.1007/s00701-016-2809-1. Epub 2016 Apr 25. PMID: 27113742.

Mathieu D, Marroni A, Kot J. Tenth European Consensus Conference on Hyperbaric Medicine: recommendations for accepted and non-accepted clinical indications and practice of hyperbaric oxygen treatment. Diving Hyperb Med. 2017 Mar;47(1):24-32. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.1.24-32. Erratum in: Diving Hyperb Med. 2017 Jun;47(2):131-132. doi: 10.28920/dhm47.2.131-132. PMID: 28357821; PMCID: PMC6147240.