Feasibility analysis of long⁃tunnelled external ventricular drainage in neurosurgery

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of long ⁃tunnelled external ventricular drainage (LTEVD) in neurosurgery. Methods A total of 187 patients who underwent external ventricular drainage in The Second Nanning People's Hospital from June 2020 to August 2022 were included. They were respectively treated with LTEVD (LTEVD group, n = 82) and short⁃tunnelled external ventricular drainage (STEVD group, n = 105). The indwelling time of postoperative drainage tube were recorded in detail. Drainage tube displacement, drainage tube blockage, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and the incidence of secondary intracranial infection, as well as the incidence of secondary intracranial infection during drainage tube indwelling days. Results The comparison of safety between 2 groups showed that the drainage tube indwelling time in LTEVD group was significantly longer than that in STEVD group [23.00 (14.00, 33.50) d vs. 7.00 (5.00, 10.00) d; Z = ⁃ 10.126, P = 0.000], and the secondary intracranial infection rate during drainage tube indwelling days was lower than that in STEVD group [1.92‰ (4/2087) vs. 16.35‰ (13/795); χ2 = 187.000, P = 0.000]. Conclusions LTEVD can significantly prolong the indewelling time of drainage tube, the incidence of secondary intracranial infection during drainage tube indwelling days can clarify the effect of drainage tube indwelling time on the incidence of secondary intracranial infection.

Keywords

• neurosurgical procedures
• drainage
• central nervous system infections
• cerebrospinal fluid