Hemorrhagic complications of ventriculostomy: Incidence and predictors in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage: Clinical article

  • Eric S. Sussman
  • , Christopher P. Kellner
  • , Eric Nelson
  • , Michael M. McDowell
  • , Samuel S. Bruce
  • , Rachel A. Bruce
  • , Zong Zhuang
  • , E. Sander Connolly

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Object. Ventriculostomy - the placement of an external ventricular drain (EVD) - is a common procedure performed in patients with acute neurological injury. Although generally considered a low-risk intervention, recent studies have cited higher rates of hemorrhagic complications than those previously reported. The authors sought to determine the rate of postventriculostomy hemorrhage in a cohort of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and to identify predictors of hemorrhagic complications of EVD placement. Methods. Patients with ICH who underwent EVD placement and had both pre- and postprocedural imaging available for analysis were included in this study. Relevant data were prospectively collected for each patient who satisfied inclusion criteria. Variables with a p < 0.20 on univariate analyses were included in a stepwise logistic regression model to identify predictors of postventriculostomy hemorrhage. Results. Sixty-nine patients were eligible for this analysis. Postventriculostomy hemorrhage occurred in 31.9% of patients. Among all patients with intraparenchymal hemorrhage, the mean hemorrhage volume was 0.66 ± 1.06 cm3. Stratified according to ventricular catheter diameter, patients treated with smaller-diameter catheters had a significantly greater mean hemorrhage volume than patients treated with larger-diameter catheters (0.84 ± 1.2 cm3 vs 0.14 ± 0.12 cm 3, p = 0.049). Postventriculostomy hemorrhage was clinically significant in only 1 patient (1.4%). Overall, postventriculostomy hemorrhage was not associated with functional outcome or mortality at either discharge or 90 days. In the multivariate model, an age > 75 years was the only independent predictor of EVD-associated hemorrhage. Conclusions. Advanced age is predictive of EVD-related hemorrhage in patients with ICH. While postventriculostomy hemorrhage is common, it appears to be of minor clinical significance in the majority of patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)931-936
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Neurosurgery
Volume120
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • External ventricular drain
  • Hemorrhagic complications
  • Intracerebral hemorrhage
  • Vascular disorders
  • Ventriculostomy

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