Treatment of brain abscess associated with ventricular rupture--three case reports.

Three patients presented with brain abscess associated with ventricular rupture. The origins of infection were sepsis, congenital heart disease, and unknown, and the organisms were Gram-negative cocci in one and Streptococcus species in two. Ventricular rupture occurred before administration of antibiotics and caused consciousness disturbance in all three patients. Continuous ventricle drainage was begun and antibiotics were directly administered into the ventricles. Aspiration and drainage from the abscess was also performed in two patients. Ventricular irrigation resulted in an excellent effect in one patient. The outcomes were excellent in two patients and fair in one. Aggressive ventricular drainage in the very early stage and direct intraventricular administration of antibiotics are very important to obtain a favorable outcome in patients with brain abscess and ventricular rupture.