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Comparison of ventricular drain location and infusion test in hydrocephalus

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Morgan, JAD 
Wawrzynski, JR 
Czosnyka, Z 
Kasprowicz, M 

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Suspected cerebrospinal fluid shunt (CSF) dysfunction in hydrocephalic patients poses a diagnostic uncertainty. The clinical picture can be non-specific and CT imaging alone is not always pathognomonic. Infusion tests are an increasingly used investigation for real-time hydrodynamic assessment of shunt patency. We report the correlation between infusion test results with the quality of ventricular drain placement on CT scans in a large retrospective group of hydrocephalic patients. MATERIALS & METHODS: Three hundred and six infusion test results performed in 200 patients were correlated with 306 corresponding CT head scans. Nominal logistic regression was used to correlate shunt catheter position on CT imaging to patency of ventricular drain as determined by infusion tests. RESULTS: Infusion test results of shunt patency are statistically congruent with the analysis of shunt catheter position on CT head scans. Catheter tips completely surrounded by either parenchyma or CSF on CT imaging are strongly associated with evidence of occlusion or patency from infusion tests, respectively (χ² = 51.68, P < 0.0001, n = 306 and χ² = 31.04, P < 0.0001, n = 306). CONCLUSIONS: The most important anatomical factor for shunt patency is the catheter tip being completely surrounded by CSF. Infusion tests provide functional and reliable assessment of shunt patency in vivo and are strongly correlated with the position of the ventricular catheter on CT imaging.

Description

Keywords

hydrocephalus, infusion tests, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Hydrocephalus, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Retrospective Studies, Spinal Puncture, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Young Adult

Journal Title

Acta Neurologica Scandinavica

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0001-6314
1600-0404

Volume Title

135

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell
Sponsorship
MRC (G0600986)
MRC (G9439390)
MRC (G0001237)
TCC (NIHR-RP-R3-12-013)
No funding source.