Long tunnel external ventricular drain: an adjunct in the management of patients with infection associated hydrocephalus

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of long tunnelled external ventricular drains (LTEVD) as a temporizing measure in patients with ventriculitis/meningitis requiring cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion in whom immediate shunt surgery is not feasible. Methods: A retrospective review of the records of 15 patients with ventriculitis/meningitis, in whom an LTEVD was inserted, was performed to evaluate its safety, new onset CSF infection and need for permanent CSF diversion. Results: 15 patients with ventriculitis/meningitis had 16 LTEVDs placed between May 2006 and December 2016. There were 10 males and 5 females, their mean age being 16.5 years (range, 8 months-50 years). The mean duration of CSF drainage was 15.6 days (range, 4 to 44 days). Of the 16 LTEVDs that were inserted, two (13.3% - one CSF infection and one wound infection) developed new infection after 44 and 17 days of continuous CSF drainage respectively. The LTEVDs were removed and permanent CSF diversion procedures were performed in 10 patients during the same admission and in one patient later. At a mean follow up of 11.6 months (range 2-40 months), 8 of the 11 patients who underwent a permanent CSF diversion procedure had no clinical features of meningitis/ventriculitis. Conclusion: LTEVDs are an effective method of temporary CSF diversion in patients requiring the same for more than 5 days. These drains have a low infection rate when placed up to four weeks making them a safe and efficacious adjunct in management of ventriculitis/meningitis associated hydrocephalus.