Intraventricular catheter

Insertion of a ventricular catheter can be life saving in patients with cerebellar hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. In patients with supratentorial hemorrhage and hydrocephalus, however, the benefits of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion are less certain. In patients with extensive intraventricular hemorrhage secondary to deep intraparenchymal or aneurysmal rupture, drainage of CSF is performed in some centers. Systematic reviews of observational studies suggest that this procedure may be helpful, especially when it is combined with instillation of fibrinolytic drugs. However, randomized trials are needed (Lee et al. 2003 Fountas et al. 2005). 

For delivery through the CSF, drugs can be infused intraventricularly using a plastic reservoir called an Ommaya reservoir implanted subcutaneously in the scalp and connected to the ventricles within the brain via an outlet catheter [133] (Figure 14.11). Compared to vascular drug administration, CSF... 

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