Ventriculostomy infections: the effect of monitoring duration and catheter exchange in 584 patients

• DOI: 10.3171/jns.1996.85.3.0419
• Publication Date: 2009-06-08T21:52:36Z
• Authors: Kathryn L. Holloway; Tom Barnes; Sung Choi; Ross Bullock; Lawrence F. Marshall; Howard M. Eisenberg; John A. Jane; John D. Ward; Harold F. Young; Anthony Marmarou
• Keywords: Ventriculostomy; Ventriculitis; External ventricular drain

✓ The investigators undertook a retrospective analysis of ventriculostomy infections to evaluate their relationship monitoring duration and prophylactic catheter exchange. In 1984, the results an epidemiological study ventriculostomy-related infection were published. One conclusions paper was that incidence rose after 5 days monitoring. This led recommendation catheters be prophylactically changed at 5-day intervals if prolonged required. A recent randomized prospective on central venous showed no reduction in with exchanges. has authors reexamine experience infections. Data 584 severely head injured patients ventriculostomies prospectively collected two data banks, Traumatic Coma Bank Medical College Virginia Neurocore Bank. These retrospectively analyzed for factors associated related It found there is ventriculitis but it not simple or linear. There rising risk over first 10 days, then becomes very unlikely despite population continues risk. Patients whom replaced prior did have lower rate than those whose exchanged more intervals. Based these data, recommended intracranial pressure removed as quickly possible, circumstances which required, appears benefit from