Fewer complications with bolt-connected than tunneled external ventricular drainage

• Published in: Acta neurochirurgica Vol. 158; no. 8; pp. 1491 - 1494
• Main Authors: Jensen, Torben Slott, Carlsen, Jakob Gram, Sørensen, Jens Christian, Poulsen, Frantz Rom
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01-08-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Catheters, Indwelling - adverse effects; Clinical Article - Neurosurgical Techniques; Drainage - adverse effects; Drainage - methods; Female; Humans; Interventional Radiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minimally Invasive Surgery; Neurology; Neuroradiology; Neurosurgery; Postoperative Complications; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Orthopedics; Trephining - adverse effects; Trephining - methods; Ventriculostomy - adverse effects; Ventriculostomy - methods; Bolt-connected EVD; Neurosurgical technique; Intracranial pressure; Hydrocephalus; Ventriculostomy
• ISSN: 0001-6268; 0942-0940
• DOI: 10.1007/s00701-016-2863-8

Background
Ventriculostomy/external ventricular drain (EVD) is a common neurosurgical procedure. Various techniques are used to fixate the drain and the objective of this study was, in a retrospective setting, to compare the incidence of complications when using bolt-connected EVD (BC-EVD) versus tunneled EVD (T-EVD).
Methods
All patients subjected to an EVD performed through a new burr hole from 2009 through 2010 at two Depts. of Neurosurgery in Denmark (Odense and Aarhus) were retrospectively identified. Patient files were evaluated for EVD fixation technique (tunneled or bolt-connected EVD) and complications including unintended removal, catheter obstruction, infection, CSF leakage, and mechanical problems.
Results
A total of 271 patients with 272 separate EVDs met the inclusion criteria. There was a statistically higher rate of complications leading to reinsertion in the tunneled EVD group (40 %), compared to the bolt-connected EVD group (6.5 %). There was no significant difference in infection rates.
Conclusions
Tunneled EVD has a relatively high frequency of complications leading to reinsertion. The use of Bolt-connected EVD technique can lower this frequency significantly. The number needed to treat is three for preventing a complication requiring reinsertion. Infection rates are low for both types of ventriculostomies. Accordingly, we recommend use of Bolt-connected EVDs in neurosurgical practice.