Conservative treatment effective for DBS-related brain abscesses

Two patients developed rare brain abscesses after deep brain stimulation (DBS) surgery. Traditionally, such infections require the removal of the DBS system, but both patients were treated conservatively with antibiotics and mannitol, avoiding surgery. The first patient, a 41-year-old woman, showed improvement after three months of conservative treatment, with no recurrence of the abscess. The second patient, a 61-year-old man, also responded well, with significant reduction in abscess size after eight weeks of similar treatment. These cases suggest that conservative management may be a viable alternative to surgery for brain abscesses following DBS, potentially preserving the effectiveness of the DBS system while minimizing risks associated with surgical intervention. Further research is needed to evaluate treatment options.