Abstracts

Patients undergoing brain surgeries are at risk of developing bacterial infections post-operatively, but herpes simplex virus (HSV) reactivation is a rare complication. Few reports are available on patients that develop reactivation herpes virus encephalitis following epilepsy surgery. We report a case of HSV reactivation post epilepsy surgery to raise awareness of this risk and to consider treatment pre and post surgery on patient with a history of prior HSV infection., We report one case of reactivation of herpes simplex virus after epilepsy surgery on a 12 year old with pharmaco-resistant localization-related epilepsy of left temporo-parietal onset. This patient had a history of negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HSV as an infant. Four days after resection of the epileptogenic focus the patient developed acute repetitive seizures, meningeal signs, confusion, lethargy and high fever. PCR in the CSF was positive for HSV., The patient[apos]s seizures stopped 48 hours after starting treatment with Acyclovir. The confusion and lethargy resolved 48-72 hours after initiating treatment. There were no sequelae to the infection. The patient is now 1.5 years seizure free and off anti-convulsants., Though early recognition and treatment of HSV encephalitis is essential, we believe that prophylactic treatment with acyclovir pre and post brain surgery is warranted in patients with prior HSV exposure to decrease the chances of this complication.,