Managment of external ventricular drainage in Intensive Care Units
Practical guide
Abstract
Intracraneal catheters, especially external ventricular drainage, are frequently used in patients with serious neurological injuries in Intensive Care Units. The management of these patients should be standarized in order to reach better results, considering the increase of risk infections at the Central Nervous System, especially after neurosurgery. Guidelines of management were established reviewing literature and considering discussions between Intensive Medicine and Neurosurgery Departments of the Faculty of Medicine. Indications, techniques, description of cerebro-spinal fluid divertion and drainage, and managment were categorized. Diagnosis of Central Nervous System infections after surgery, such as meningitis and ventriculitis were determined.
References
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