Abstract
Introduction: External ventricular drainage is a treatment modality of choice in patients with acute onset hydrocephalus. It is, however, associated with a risk of postoperative central nervous system infection, a complication especially difficult to treat. There is currently a wide number of possible risk factors described to be linked to this type of complications.
Material and methods: We have retrospectively assessed clinical course of 54 patients who underwent EVD during period of 2017-2021. Incidence of postoperative infections, infectious agents and possible risk factors were assessed by means of logistic regression modelling.
Results: We have recorded an overall incidence of newly developed central nerve system infection after external ventricular drainage reaching 14.81%. In the logistic regression model the only observed variable significantly associated with increased odds for postoperative central nervous system infection was the duration of external ventricular drainage (OR 1.26; 95%CI 1.05-1.51; p=0.012). Postoperative infections occurred after an average period of 14.63 days. The most common infectious agent identified was Staphylococcus species.
Conclusion: Despite various possible risk factors suggested, the only significant risk factor of postoperative infection after external ventricular drainage is its duration. External ventricular drainage should therefore be terminated or converted to a permanent drainage system as soon as possible to avoid the increased risk of central nerve system infection (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 16). Text v PDF www.lekarskyobzor.sk.
KEY WORDS: external ventricular drainage, hydrocephalus, neuroinfection, meningitis.
Lek Obz 2022, 71 (10): 376-380
Martin HANKO, Alžbeta MAJTANOVÁ, Pavol SNOPKO, René OPŠENÁK, Gabriela MIČUROVÁ, Branislav KOLAROVSZKI
Neurochirurgická klinika, Jesseniova lekárska fakulta v Martine, UK v Bratislave a UN Martin, prednosta doc. MUDr. B. Kolarovszki, PhD.
Cite
HANKO M., MAJTANOVÁ A., SNOPKO P., OPŠENÁK R., MIČUROVÁ G., KOLAROVSZKI B.: Infections of external ventricular drainage and risks of their development. Lek obz 2022, 71 (10): 376-380
