Ventriculostomy Insertion

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

I just started my training in the Surgical ICU and have a bunch of questions. One that just came to me is, Does the insertion of a ventriculostomy drain have the potential of causing more brain injury? Does the catheter not go through brain parenchyma?

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Specializes in SRNA.

The biggest risks are infection and over drainage of CSF. The catheter does go through brain matter, yet typically the non-dominant hemisphere is used for insertion, unless contraindicated.

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Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Thank you for your response. I just am having trouble grasping the fact that the catheter go through brain matter without causing any injury?

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

It causes injury but it's a benefit vs risk. The risk of death is greater than a few less brain cells. I ahd a neuro guy tell me once you loose more brain cells on a night of partying hearty.....

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Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Okay, that makes sense! Thank you!

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Specializes in pediatrics.

In premature infants with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, over draining can cause the skull to collapse and cause more hemorrhaging.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
In premature infants with post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, over draining can cause the skull to collapse and cause more hemorrhaging.

Adults too, technically....but the OP was talking about inse.rtion

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Specializes in PICU, NICU, L&D, Public Health, Hospice.

...once had an intern pick up a VT drainage bag and hold it up to look at it...I lunged for the bag and he dropped it...

what an idiot

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