The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the results of external ventricular drain (EVD) placement for the management of hydrocephalus. We present our experience with 103 consecutive cases over one year, 56 of which had subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Short tunnel ventriculostomy was performed at the bedside in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (NSICU), using sterile technique. Long-term care included meticulous site care by a dedicated NSICU nurse, daily cultures and prophylactic antibiotics. The average duration of EVD was 10.7 days (range 1-28 days). There was one case of positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture. Additional complications included one small intraparenchymal hematoma and two cases of EVD disconnection. No patient died form EVD-associated complications. No rebleed from aneurysmal SAH was seen. There was no correlation between the duration of EVD and infection. We conclude that placement of short EVD in the NSICU is safe and can be maintained for the required duration of treatment with minimum infection rate.

The transcranial cerebral oximeter is a reliable, low-cost, noninvasive device that provides real-time evaluation of regional brain oxygen saturation during endovascular treatment of cerebrovascular diseases. We discuss three patients with carotid-cavernous fistulae treated by endovascular balloon occlusion, each monitored continuously before, during, and after the procedure with transcranial cerebral oximetry. The cerebral oxygen saturation measured was directly related to the side of the venous drainage of the fistula, being 15-20% higher on that side. Following endovascular occlusion of the fistula, oxygen saturation gradually became equal on the two sides.

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