Cavernous sinus thrombosis - Treating cavernous sinus thrombosis

Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a serious condition that needs to be treated in hospital.

In most cases, you will be treated in an intensive care unit so your condition can be closely monitored.

Antibiotics

The main treatment for cavernous sinus thrombosis is antibiotic medication. This is started as soon as possible, even before tests have confirmed if a bacterial infection is responsible for the condition.

If tests later show that a bacterial infection did not cause the condition, antibiotic treatment may stop.

Most people will require at least a three- to four-week course of antibiotics to ensure the infection has been fully cleared from their body. These are given through an intravenous drip directly connected to one of your veins.

Around 1 in 10 people will experience side effects when taking antibiotics. These are generally mild and can include diarrhoea, nausea and a skin rash.

Anticoagulants

In some cases, you may also be given a medication called heparin to help dissolve the clot and prevent further clots. Heparin is an anticoagulant, which means it makes the blood less sticky.

However, there are some doubts about the use of anticoagulant treatment for cavernous sinus thrombosis, such as when it should be used and how long treatment should last. There is also a risk of serious problems such as excessive bleeding (haemorrhaging).

There is a lack of evidence concerning the use of anticoagulants for the condition because it is so rare that it is difficult to study. Nevertheless, the little research that does exist seems to suggest that anticoagulants can be an effective treatment for some people, and most doctors agree it should be used where appropriate.

Corticosteroids

You may also be given steroid medication (corticosteroids) in addition to antibiotics. Corticosteroids can help reduce the level of inflammation and swelling in your body.

However, as with anticoagulant therapy, there is little evidence concerning the effectiveness of corticosteroids in treating cavernous sinus thrombosis. Nonetheless, corticosteroids are thought to be beneficial for some people.

Surgical drainage

If the symptoms of cavernous sinus thrombosis were caused by an infection spreading from a boil or sinusitis, it may be necessary to drain away pus from that site. This can be done either using a needle or during surgery.