TechniqueVentricular catheter tack-down suture: Technical note
Introduction
Malfunction of cerebrospinal fluid shunts is a common neurosurgical problem with estimates reported as high as 29% in the first year after shunt placement [1], [2]. Approximately 12% to 13% of shunt malfunctions result from disconnection and tubing migration [1], [2], [3], [4], [5]. In an effort to reduce the potential problem of proximal shunt disconnection and migration, we developed a technique to apply rigid fixation to the skull at the point of connection between the ventricular catheter and the proximal portion of the shunt valve. This fixation can theoretically reduce the mobility of the shunt apparatus and thereby decrease the potential for disconnection or migration.
Section snippets
Surgical technique
After placement of a burr hole in the desired location for subsequent passage of a ventricular catheter, a pneumatic drill with a fine-tipped drill bit (eg, the Midas Rex drill with the C1 drill bit from the Midas Rex division of Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) is used to make a small twist drill hole. This twist drill hole is akin to a hole for a craniotomy dural tack-up stitch and is made in the skull 1 to 2 mm from the burr hole at the point where the ventricular tubing will pass over the bone
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Cited by (2)
The Shunt Slippage: A Complication of Pumping Test
2022, Korean Journal of NeurotraumaVentricular catheter tack-down screw
2008, Pediatric Neurosurgery