Intracranial complications of pediatric rhinosinusitis: Identifying risk factors and interventions affecting length of hospitalization.

To identify risk factors and interventions affecting length of hospitalization (LOH) and clinical outcome in children with intracranial complications of rhinosinusitis.Retrospective chart review of 12 children hospitalized at 2 academic medical centers for intracranial complications of rhinosinusitis over the past 5 years.12 patients were identified with an average age at presentation of 13 years old. 92% were male and 75% were African American. The most common presenting symptoms were fever and headache. Localizing neurological symptoms including hemiparesis and aphasia, in addition to seizures occurred in 33% of patients and increased LOH significantly (33 versus 15 days, p = 0.03). Epidural (EA) and subdural abscesses (SA) were the most common intracranial complications. 58% of patients were initially treated with a combination of open neurosurgical (ON) intervention and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and LOH was significantly shorter for these patients compared to those treated otherwise (14 versus 31 days, p = 0.02). Streptococcus species were the most common group of bacteria identified in 75% of cases, with S. anginosus accounting for 42% of cases. The overall average LOH was 21 days with 92% of patients having complete resolution of symptoms by time of discharge.Treatment of intracranial complications of acute rhinosinusitis can have favorable outcomes after appropriate surgical management. Localizing neurologic symptoms and seizures portend longer hospital stay and recovery time. Shorter hospital stay was seen in those undergoing early combined ON and ESS interventions.