Management of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in the preterm infant.
We studied the use of a subcutaneous ventricular catheter reservoir in 19 preterm infants with birth posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus. These infants were a poor risk for insertion of ventriculoperitoneal shunt due to their small size and hemorrhagic ventricular fluid at the time of diagnosis. The age at reservoir insertion was 29 +/- 9 days and the weight was 1,217 +/- 414 g. The reservoir was kept in place for 51 +/- 29 days with the removal of 527 +/- 421 mL of fluid by 57 +/- 42 taps. All infants tolerated the procedure well. Only two infants developed infection despite multiple reservoir taps. One infant expired due to unrelated causes. Three infants did not require a permanent shunt, while 15 infants had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt inserted prior to discharge at 3 to 4 months of age. We conclude that ventricular catheter reservoir is a safe and effective palliative procedure in the management of post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in small preterm infants.
Anwar
M
M
Doyle
A J
AJ
Kadam
S
S
Hiatt
I M
IM
Hegyi
T
T
D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care