Diagnosis and treatment of postoperative aseptic meningitis

To summarize the experience on diagnosis and treatment of aseptic meningitis, the clinical characteristics and corresponding treatment of postoperative aseptic meningitis were retrospectively analyzed in 108 patients. The following symptoms and findings were noticed in all patients: Fever (38 to 40°C); consciousness disturbance without progressive aggravation; increase of leukocyte count and protein in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF); slight increase or normal glucose in the CSF; negative bacterial culture. All patients were treated with intravenous dexamethasone and lumbar puncture, and recovered completely. Among these patients, 94 recovered in the hospital and the remaining 14 requested discharge and recovered in the following one month. Within 3 to 7 days following craniocerebral operations, these patients who had the following symptoms and findings: Fever (38 to 40°C); positive meningeal irritation sign; increase of leukocyte count and protein in the CSF; normal glucose in the CSF, effectiveness following implosive therapy with large dose dexamethasone (15 or 20 mg intravenously) and 3 consecutive negative bacterial cultures of CSF, can be diagnosed as aseptic meningitis. Implosive therapy with large-dose dexamethasone and cerebrospinal fluid drainage are the main therapeutic strategies. © 2011 Academic Journals.