Ventriculoatrial shunt distal catheter placement using transesophageal echocardiography: technical note.
Accurate placement of the distal end of a ventriculoatrial shunt at the cavo-atrial junction is important for long-term shunt function as well as for avoiding cardiac arrhythmias, thrombus formation, and damage to myocardial tissue. Standard methods of intraoperative localization, including chest x-ray, pressure measurements, and electrocardiogram recording, can be inaccurate. By using intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, the distal end of the catheter can be localized to the cavo-atrial junction.
McGrail
K M
KM
Department of Neurosurgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
Muzzi
D A
DA
Losasso
T J
TJ
Meyer
F B
FB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000379:methods*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004724:Endoscopy; D006325:Heart Atria; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male