J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2004 Jan;35(1):88-90.

External Ventricular Drainage System with Long Subcutaneous Tunnel

• Hur CW
• Kim SH
• Kim SW
• Chang CH
• Choi BY
• Cho SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study is to introduce a new method of external ventricular drainage system to reduce the complications of infections by making a long subcutaneous tunnel. METHODS: Between January 2002 and March 2003, 59 cases of ventriculostomy including 44 cases of short subcutaneous tunnel and 15 cases of long subcutaneous tunnel were performed and analysed. Subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage were major indications for ventriculostomy. RESULTS: No infection was noted in the group of 15 patients with long subcutaneous tunnel. Whereas, 6 cases(13.6%) of infection was diagnosed in the group of 44 patients with short subcutaneous tunnel. The ventriculostomy was kept maximally for 11(mean 7.4)days without infection in the patients with long subcutaneous tunnel. CONCLUSION: To reduce the infection as a complication of ventriculostomy, we devise a new drainage system that involves the long subcutaneous tunnel.

Keyword

External ventricular drainage(EVD); Long subcutaneous tunnel; Ventriculitis

MeSH Terms

Drainage*
Hemorrhage
Humans
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Ventriculostomy