Abstract
We report on biliary tract infections that were found in neurosurgical patients at our hospital. Among 829 neurosurgical patients treated by our department over the past three years, abdominal echographic findings led to the diagnosis of cholecystitis or cholangitis in 12 patients. These patients consisted of 11 males and I female, from 37 to 73 years of age (mean ; 5/~.7) . A11 12 patients presented high fevers, elevated liver values, and biliary tract infections. For therapy, antibiotics were administered, which were found to be completely or moderately effective in 11 of these 12 cases. In hospitalized neurosurgical patients, cases presenting associated cholecystitis or cholangitis are rare ; in our hospital this amounts to 1.4% of all neurosurgical cases. Therefore, the possibility of a biliary tract infection should also be taken into consideration when neurosurgical patients suddenly develop a high fever of unknown origin and/ or show abnormal blood test findings. However, the prognosis is good for neurosurgical patients who develop associated cholecystitis or cholangitis if the condition is detected early by echography and prompt antibiotic treatment is provided.
