The authors reviewed cases in which children with a focal infection inside the head (ex: a brain abscess) were cared for in their pediatric ICU to describe the frequency of complications and quantify the ICU resources needed (ex: breathing tube, blood pressure medications, and/or an intracranial pressure monitor). This information helps clarify illness severity and has identified complications that we should further investigate to improve care for these children.
Keywords: CI = complicated infection; CSF = cerebrospinal fluid; CVST = cerebral venous sinus thrombosis; EA = epidural abscess; EEG = electroencephalogram; HTS = hypertonic saline; IA = intraparenchymal abscess; ICD = International Classification of Disease; ICH = intracranial hypertension; ICP = intracranial pressure; IQR = interquartile range; LOS = length of stay; PCPC = pediatric cerebral performance category; PICU = pediatric intensive care unit; SA = subdural abscess; SE = subdural empyema; critical care; epidural abscess; infection; intracranial abscess; pediatric; subdural empyema.