Keywords
shunt dependent hydrocephalus - subarachnoid hemorrhage - aneurysm rupture - continuous
and intermittent drainage - external ventricular drainage - Ommaya
Palavras-chave
hidrocefalia dependente de derivação - hemorragia subaracnoide - ruptura de aneurisma
- drenagem contínua e intermitente - drenagem ventricular externa - Ommaya
Introduction
Hydrocephalus develops in between 6 and 60% of cases following subarachnoid hemorrhage
(SAH).[1] Most often, hydrocephalus responds to cisternostomy while performing aneurysmal
clipping and by putting external ventricular drainage (EVD) during surgery and postoperatively.
Similarly, EVD is placed before coiling, when the endovascular procedure is planned
or following it if hydrocephalus persists. In between 40 and 50% of these patients,
removing EVD leads to ventriculomegaly and clinical deterioration due to which ventriculoperitoneal
shunt needs to be placed. Continuous drainage through EVD has the inherent risk of
developing infection (between 0 and 45% of the cases), tube blockage, intracranial
hemorrhage, etc.[2] There is growing evidence emphasizing intermittent and slow drainage of CSF leading
to lesser chances of EVD-related complications. Replacement of EVD by Ommaya reservoir
has been found to reduce chances of infection in different studies.[3]
[4] Some studies have reported reduced shunt dependency in hydrocephalus following SAH
when CSF is drained intermittently and gradually when compared with continuous drainage
and fast weaning.[5] Few studies suggested a reduction in the rate of complications associated with intermittent
EVD drainage and decreased number of ventriculoperitoneal shunts required in it.[6] There are conflicting reports that these findings in other studies are associated
with increased risk of vasospasm, no difference in shunt dependency, and outcome following
intermittent CSF drainage when compared with continuous CSF drainage. Therefore, we
tried to evaluate the efficacy of Ommaya reservoir placement in such cases in reducing
shunt dependency as well the length of stay in hospital and the functional outcome
on follow-up.
Material and Methods
Ethical clearance for the present study was obtained from the institution. We have
adhered to the Institutional and Departmental Ethical Guidelines while working on
the present study and during its final submission with institutional ethical clearance
(no. IEC/2021/355). Detailed written informed consent was obtained at the time of
admission in the hospital from the patients, next of kin, or guardian for the use
of their data for teaching and clinical research purposes.
The present study was conducted between July 2018 and March 2021in the department
of Neurosurgery at our institute. In this period, 250 cases of ruptured aneurysms
were treated, out of which 67 cases were included in the study as they were presenting
with hydrocephalus. In the present study, we included the patients who developed hydrocephalus
following ruptured aneurysm with intracranial bleeding (subarachnoid, intraventricular,
etc.) and required EVD. The primary objective of the present study was to assess the
reduction in the requirement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt following Ommaya reservoir
placement after failed EVD and the second objective was to assess the reduction in
duration of stay in ICU and hospital together with any improvement in Glasgow outcome
score on follow-up in this group of patients.
Clinical information was obtained from the medical charts of the patients. The following
data were collected: age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score at the time of admission,
Hunt and Hess grade, Fischer score on computed tomography (CT), duration of EVD placement,
complications associated with EVD, Ommaya reservoir placement, history of CSF drainage,
Glasgow outcome score at follow-up, and comorbidities, including obstructive lung
diseases (i.e., asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), coronary artery
diseases, heart failure, stroke, diabetes, cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis,
and metastases.
Radiological findings on NCCT head as Fischer grade of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH),
Evan's index, periventricular lusency were noted from medical records of the patients.
Preoperative aneurysm configuration, postoperative obliteration of aneurysm, vasospasm
were noted from DSA findings as observed in records available.
The following laboratory data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively: routine
blood investigations, CSF routine microscopy sent at regular intervals and associated
CBC findings, CSF culture, and sensitivity report of CSF.
Ommaya reservoir was placed 2.5 cm lateral and 1 cm in front of the coronal suture
by making an elliptical incision and placing a burr hole within the scalp. Ommaya
reservoir tapping was done with number 16 scalp vein with its tubings and kept under
sterile transparent dressings.
EVD Management Protocol
We placed EVD in cases with hydrocephalus following aneurysmal SAH and to open it
intermittently to drain from 50 to 100 ml depending on ICP measurement of > 20 cm
or lower. We performed continuous drainage through EVD after the aneurysms were secured
by either endovascular coiling or microsurgical clipping. Once the patient started
improving postoperatively, we gradually weaned off the patient from EVD by intermittently
opening the EVD. Meanwhile, we strictly monitored any drop in GCS and rise in blood
pressure to look for features of raised ICP. Trial of weaning from EVD was given every
48 hours in patients with Hunt and Hess grades 1 and 2 and 72 hours in grades 3and
4, so that multiple trials of tube clamping can be made to ensure removal of EVD at
the appropriate time. During these repeated trials, few patients had hardware complications
as frequent blockage, infections, etc, for which it was replaced by Ommaya reservoir.
Placement of Ommaya reservoir act as a conduit for intermittent CSF drainage and antibiotics
installation, which helped us in decreasing intracranial infection and in performing
a gradual and intermittent EVD drainage.
Once the Ommaya reservoir was placed, we used to assess the requirement of tapping
CSF through it depending on the GCS status of the patient which was bserved and charted
in critical care sheet at regular interval. In patients for whom more frequent drainage
was required through the scalp vein set (> 3 or 4 times/day) regularly for 4 or 5
days as we used to wait for CSF sample to become sterile and replace it with VP shunt.
Once the patient's GCS improved and became stable, we assessed the need for continuation
of Ommaya reservoir by reducing tapping of CSF through it. Initially, it was done
3-4 times at a 24-hour interval, followed by draining CSF through it at 48 hours twice
and then 72 hourly twice, if the patient remained stable while this Ommaya reservoir
was taken out. It was challenging to measure opening CSF pressure or measure ICP regularly
through different monitoring devices and it was not done in all patients included
in the study, but we rely more on clinical parameters as repeat measures of GCS, Blood
pressure, pulse rate, and respiratory rate, O2 saturation as reflective of increased
intracranial pressure.
Ommaya reservoir was preferred as it reduces external hardware-related risks of getting
infected, blocked, pullout, etc, and helps better patient mobilization with intermittent
draining by the scalp vein set.
Indications for putting an Ommaya reservoir in the patients who were earlier having
EVD for hydrocephalus following SAH after aneurysm rupture in the present study were:
-
Patients in whom cisternostomy was perfomed while performing microsurgical clipping
required lesser Ommaya reservoir after external ventricular drainage. This requirement
was least in patients in whom lamina terminalis and fenestration of Liliquist membrane
was done simultaneously (p = 0.002).
-
Patients who could not be weaned from EVD drainage and who required some more time
to assess for GCS to get stabilized.
Statistical analysis
All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version
20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard
deviation (SD) and were compared using independent t-tests. Categorical variables were expressed as numbers (percentage) and compared
using the chi-squared test or the Fisher exact test, as appropriate. Multiple logistic
regression analysis was performed to identify the factors related to Ommaya reservoir
placement. Factors with a p-value < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were entered into the stepwise logistic regression
analysis. A two-tailed p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The significance of Ommaya reservoir
placement and duration of ICU stay and of hospital stay was analyzed using single
variable analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Shunt dependency following Ommaya reservoir
on follow-up was calculated from Kaplan–Miere curve and significance risk ratio for
shunt dependency in absence of Ommaya was calculated from COX-Proportional hazard
ratio.
Results
Patient in group 1 with EVD only has 39 patients and group 2 who required Ommaya after
EVD has 28 patients. Both groups were age-group matched, with a slight male preponderance
in group 1. Ommaya reservoir placement was significantly associated with high Fischer
grade on CT and infarct on preoperative CT scan. It was not significantly associated
with the location of the aneurysm or with the type of procedure (clipping versus coiling).
([Table 1])
Table 1
Demography and clinical features of patients with hydrocephalus with and without Ommaya
Variables
|
Group 1
(Hydrocephalus with EVD only)
(n = 38)
|
Group 2
(Hydrocephalus with EVD followed by Ommaya) (n = 29)
|
p-value
|
Age (years old)
|
51.10 ± 10.83
|
50.63 ± 9.53
|
0.12
|
Gender (M/F)
|
10/19
|
21/17
|
|
Location of the aneurysm
|
16
|
19
|
0.059
|
Anterior circulation
|
10
|
22
|
|
Posterior circulation
|
|
|
|
Hunt and hess grade
|
< 3
|
8
|
14
|
0.12
|
> 3
|
30
|
15
|
Fischer grade on CT
|
1
|
–
|
–
|
0.003
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
3
|
16
|
12
|
4
|
17
|
11
|
Infarct on CT head
|
32/38
|
15/29
|
0.0095
|
Procedure
|
Microsurgical clipping
|
12
|
17
|
0.059
|
Coiling
|
21
|
17
|
Spasmolysis
|
Responded
|
9
|
17
|
0.056
|
Not responded
|
29
|
12
|
Abbreviations: CT, computed tomography; EVD, external ventricular drainage; F, female;
M, male.
Different risk factors were analysed which may have been responsible for continuation
of Ommaya reservoir after taking out EVD as age, sex, procedure (clip vs. coil, vasospasm,
infarction), CSF protein measured from day1-10, CSF findings suggesting CNS infection,
Fischer grade, Hunt and Hess grade etc. On stepwise multiple regression analysis we
found that Fischer grade on CT (p = 0.0073), CSF findings suggestive of infection (0.0071), and CSF protein as measured
on 7th day of EVD insertion was significantly responsile for taking out EVD and replacing
it by Ommaya reservoir. On comparative analysis, the receiver operator curve (ROC)
showed the area under the curve of these factors as 0.932, with a positive predictive
value of 0.88. ([Table 2])([Figure 1])
Fig. 1 Reciever operating curve (ROC) suggesting area under curve of 0.9 and predictive
value of 0.88 of risk factors predisposing Ommaya placement.
Table 2
Risk factors predisposing placement of Ommaya reservoir following external ventricular
drainage on multiple logistic regression analysis
Variable
|
Coefficient
|
Std. Error
|
Odds ratio
|
95%CI
|
Wald
|
p-value
|
Infection in EVD
|
2.82574
|
1.04901
|
16.8734
|
2.1591–131.8677
|
7.2561
|
0.0071
|
Duration of EVD
|
0.35785
|
0.13339
|
1.4303
|
1.1012–1.8576
|
7.1976
|
0.0073
|
Fischer grade on CT
|
−1.80728
|
0.81816
|
0.1641
|
0.0330–0.8157
|
4.8795
|
0.0272
|
Procedure (Clipping versus coiling)
|
1.58530
|
0.92061
|
4.8807
|
0.8032–29.6570
|
2.9653
|
0.0851
|
CSF opening pressure
|
1.07135
|
0.89699
|
2.9193
|
0.5032–16.9361
|
1.4266
|
0.2323
|
Constant
|
−5.97053
|
3.72866
|
|
|
2.5640
|
0.1093
|
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; EVD, external ventricular
drainage.
Patients in whom cisternostomy was perfomed while performing microsurgical clipping
required lesser Ommaya reservoir after external ventricular drainage. This requirement
was least in patients in whom lamina terminalis and fenestration of Liliquist membrane
was done simultaneously (p = 0.002). ([Table 3])
Table 3
Cisternostomy and Ommaya reservoir placement
Ommaya reservoir placement
|
Cisternostomy
|
|
Lamina terminalis opened
|
Liliquist membrane opened
|
Both cisterns opened
|
None
|
Present
|
9
31.0% RT
81.8% CT
13.4% GT
|
0
0.0% RT
0.0% CT
0.0% GT
|
1
3.4% RT
5.3% CT
1.5% GT
|
19
65.5% RT
52.8% CT
28.4% GT
|
29 (43.3%)
|
Absent
|
2
5.3% RT
18.2% CT
3.0% GT
|
1
2.6% RT
100.0% CT
1.5% GT
|
18
47.4% RT
94.7% CT
26.9% GT
|
17
44.7% RT
47.2% CT
25.4% GT
|
38 (56.7%)
|
|
11
(16.4%)
|
1
(1.5%)
|
19
(28.4%)
|
36
(53.7%)
|
67
|
|
|
Chi-squared
|
19.927
|
|
|
|
|
DF
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
Significance level
|
p = 0.0002
|
|
|
Abbreviations: RT, row total; CT, column total; GT, grand total, DF, degree of freedom.
Supplementation with Ommaya reservoir placement after removal of EVD was more common
in patients in whom no cisternostomy was performed as observed in patients who underwent
endovascular coiling. ([Table 4])
Table 4
Ommaya reservoir placement and shunt dependency
Shunt-dependent
|
Ommaya reservoir placement
|
Present
|
Absent
|
|
Present
|
10
34.5% RT
22.2% CT
14.9% GT
|
19
65.5% RT
86.4% CT
28.4% GT
|
29 (43.3%)
|
Absent
|
35
92.1% RT
77.8% CT
52.2% GT
|
3
7.9% RT
13.6% CT
4.5% GT
|
38 (56.7%)
|
|
Chi-squared
|
24.394
|
|
|
DF
|
1
|
|
|
Significance level
|
p < 0.0001
|
|
Abbreviations: RT, row total; CT, column total; GT, grand total, DF, degree of freedom.
Shunt dependency was less in patients in whom EVD was removed and replaced by Ommaya
(19 of 29, 65.5%) when compared to patients in whom trial of Ommaya reservoir placement
was not done after removal of EVD (3 of 38 patients, 7.8%). ([Table 5])
Table 5
Ommaya reservoir placement and Glasgow outcome score at follow-up
Ommaya reservoir placement
|
Glasgow outcome score
|
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
Present
|
0
0.0% RT
0.0% CT
0.0% GT
|
0
0.0% RT
0.0% CT
0.0% GT
|
7
24.1% RT
22.6% CT
10.4% GT
|
13
44.8% RT
59.1% CT
19.4% GT
|
9
31.0% RT
90.0% CT
13.4% GT
|
29 (43.3%)
|
Absent
|
1
2.6% RT
100.0% CT
1.5% GT
|
3
7.9% RT
100.0% CT
4.5% GT
|
24
63.2% RT
77.4% CT
35.8% GT
|
9
23.7% RT
40.9% CT
13.4% GT
|
1
2.6% RT
10.0% CT
1.5% GT
|
38 (56.7%)
|
|
1
(1.5%)
|
3
(4.5%)
|
31
(46.3%)
|
22
(32.8%)
|
10
(14.9%)
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
Chi-squared
|
19.594
|
|
|
|
|
|
DF
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
|
Significance level
|
p = 0.0006
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contingency coefficient
|
0.476
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chi-squared
|
19.594
|
|
5-Resumption of normal life with minor neurological deficits; 4-moderately disabled
patient independent in daily life; 3-Severely disabled patient dependent for daily
work; 2-Neurovegetative state;1-Death.
Abbreviations: RT, row total; CT, column total; GT, grand total, DF, degree of freedom.
There was a significant decrease in the length of ICU stay in patients in whom Ommaya
was placed (29.65 ± 7.26 versus 36.13 ± 4.80; p = 0.001); similarly, there was a significant decrease in the length of hospital stay
(in days) in group 1 (39.63 ± 7.35 versus 44.86 ± 5.61; p = 0.019) ([Figure 2]). One patient in group 1 and 2 patients in group 2 succumbed to death due to cardiac
illnesses ([Table 6]). On follow-up, there was a significant reduction in shunt dependency as observed
on Kaplan-Miere survival curve analysis. Cox proportional hazard ratio for shunt dependency
on not placing Ommaya reservoir had a coefficient of 1.244 with a 95% confidence interval
(CI) (1.6026–7.5107), with a p-value of 0.0016. ([Figure 3])
Fig. 2 ICU and hospital stay in patients who required Ommaya reservoir placement.
Table 6
Outcome after Ommaya reservoir placement
|
|
Group 2 with Ommaya (n = 28)
|
Group 1 without Ommaya (n = 39)
|
p-value
|
ICU stay
|
|
29.65 ± 7.26
|
36.13 ± 4.80
|
0.019
|
Hospital stay
|
|
39.63 ± 7.35
|
44.86 ± 5.61
|
0.011
|
Shunt independency
|
|
21
|
1
|
0.0006
|
Mortality
|
|
1
|
2
|
–
|
Abbreviation: ICU, intensive care unit.
Fig. 3 Kaplan–Miere survival analysis curve revealing shunt dependency following Ommaya
reservoir placement on follow-up.
Discussion
Patients who develop hydrocephalus following SAH have raised intracranial pressure
ICP, leading to decreased perfusion pressure (PF). There may be other factors, such
as infarct and edema due to vasospasm, leading to increased ICP and decreased PF.
We come across a tricky situation when we put EVD for a prolonged time and it either
stops draining due to blockage in the tube or gets infected with the patient developing
meningitis and ventriculitis. Intermittent CSF drain through Ommaya reservoir helps
us in reducing intracranial pressure and instilling antibiotics through it reduces
meningitis, such findings are reported in other studies also.[2]
[4]
Intermittent drainage of CSF has a certain advantage over continuous drainage through
EVD in terms of establishing a pressure gradient across the CSF drainage pathway,
which helps in the healthy and early recovery of the natural CSF drainage pathway.
There are studies in which the only cisternostomy had been performed without placement
of EVD with good effect, without the requirement of subsequent ventriculoperitoneal
shunt.[7]
[8] In the present study, in which multiple cisterns (lamina terminalis cistern, the
membrane of Liliquist, etc) were opened intraoperatively required. In the present
study, patients in whom multiple cisterns (both lamina terminalis membrane of liliquist,
etc.) were opened to release CSF require lesser number of EVD, Ommaya reservoir placement
and were less shunt dependent when compared to patients in whom multiple cisternostomies
were not performed. In the study by Komotar et al., in which they performed fenestration
of the lamina terminalis, 14% the of patients with acute hydrocephalus following SAH
required VP shunt, but in the study by Winkler et al. who had performed fenestration
of the lamina terminalis and of the Liliquist membrane, 3.2% of the cases required
VP shunt.[9]
[10] In both studies, EVD was not performed. These findings suggest early recovery of
the drainage pathway if continuous CSF drainage is avoided through EVD. Perhaps, intermittent
drainage through the Ommaya pathway leads to the early establishment of the CSF pathway
which leads to a reduction in the shunt dependency as has also been observed in our
study.
Intermittent clamping reduces shunt dependency, but it requires careful patient monitoring
and persistence, as observed in the study by Ascanio et al., in which they made multiple
trials of EVD clamping before putting a shunt, which resulted in the decreased number
of cases who were shunt dependent when compared with the study of Klopfenstein et
al., who emphasized gradual weaning with a single clamp trial and reported a higher
number of cases requiring VP shunt at the end.[5]
[11] Intermittent CSF drainage through the Ommaya reservoir works on the same principle
and was also utilized in our cases, which gave us more time to wait for intracranial
infections to subside following antibiotics installations and to try intermittently
and gradually to observe for the avoidance of further external CSF drainage. It also
resulted in the reduced number of shunt-dependent patients on follow-up in our study,
when compared with intermittent EVD draining while weaning from continuous CSF drainage.
Increased risk of cerebral vasospasm and delayed ischemic neurological deficits have
been reported in the study by Kim et al. and by Amato et al. where continuous drainage
of CSF had been done for the treatment of hydrocephalus following SAH.[7]
[8] Olson et al. reported more complications and a higher incidence of vasospasm in
the subgroup of patients with continuous CSF drainage and intermittent monitoring
than in groups with intermittent CSF drainage with continuous monitoring.[12] In all three studies, although there was a higher rate of vasospasm in the continuous
draining group, the difference reported was not statistically significant compared
with the present study, which suggests reduced vasospasm resulting in decreased infarct
observed in the group with Ommaya reservoir compared with the group only treated by
EVD. The probable reason for this difference in intermittent drainage by the Ommaya
group was associated with more chances of washout and drainage of blood degradation
products, which are a formidable source of vasospasm, which is also reflected in lesser
shunt dependency in this scenario. There are no exact guidelines for either continuous
or intermittent drainage of CSF to decrease blood products in cisterns following SAH.[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
Rao et al. had reported decreased ICU stay, hospital stay, and better Glasgow outcome
score in the group with intermittent CSF drainage with rapid weaning.[14] Decreased ICU stay, hospital stay, and improved Glasgow outcome score on follow-up
had been reported in the present study, similar to the study by Rao et al., but it
differs from the study by Klopfenstein et al., who have reported decreased ICU and
hospital stay, but an increased rate of shunt-dependent cases on follow-up.[11] Patients in whom EVD was inserted for CSF drainage and given lesser weaning trial
by intermittent clamping of it have higher chances of being converted to VP shunt,
as observed in the study by Klopfenstein et al.[11] (63% of the patients) when compared to more number of intermittent clamping trial
of EVD before converting to shunt, as suggested in study by Rao et al.[14] and Olson et al.
In the studies by Klopfenstein et al. and by Olson et al., the subgroup of cases with
rapid CSF drainage by EVD had a higher rate of tube clogging and shunt infection,
similar to the present study.[11]
[13] We found high CSF protein content in the subgroup of patients with high blockage
and infection. We preferred the Ommaya reservoir for intermittent drainage of CSF
in patients in whom continuous drainage through EVD didn't work. In retrospect, we
found better outcomes on the follow-up in these cases in which the Ommaya reservoir
was placed.
Although we put Ommaya reservoir as a replacement for EVD, since it was not working,
it helped our patients to achieve a better outcome. The main reason behind this may
be the increased transcisternal pressure gradient and arachnoid granulations leading
to faster recovery of CSF drainage pathway and less shunt dependence. Another proposition
is that lower CSF pressure due to continuous drainage leads to reduced CSF secretion
and decreased CSF pressure gradient across the drainage pathway, leading to slower
recovery and more shunt-dependent patients in these circumstances. The third reason
for less VP shunt dependence with Ommaya reservoir was more attempts with intermittent
drainage and lesser complications, such as blockage and infection, gave us more time
to help the patient for the establishment of the natural CSF drainage pathway. Similar
observations were made by Karimy et al. in his study.[17]
Conclusion
Continuous drainage through EVD helped initially in patients with hydrocephalus following
SAH in decreasing ICP and increasing perfusion pressure leading to decreased infarct
subsequently. Intermittent drainage through Ommaya in the later phase of CSF drainage
probably helped in the maintenance of the CSF pressure gradient through the CSF drainage
pathway, leading to decreased shunt dependency, and early recovery in ICU with decreased
ICU and hospital stay. It appears from our study that patients developing hydrocephalus
following SAH may be benefitted in a better way if CSF drainage is done continuously
through EVD followed by intermittent CSF drainage by Ommaya reservoir; however, to
validate these results, prospective randomized trials would be better.