What is ventriculo-abdominal drainage?

The article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Le Hong Chien - Radiologist - Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine - Vinmec Times City International Hospital. The doctor has many years of experience working in the field of diagnostic imaging and interventional radiology.

What is intra-abdominal drainage? is a question asked by many people interested in the field of surgery and health science research. Ventricular drainage is a procedure performed to relieve increased intracranial pressure caused by the accumulation of large amounts of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (also known as hydrocephalus).

This is a surgery that reduces the increase in intracranial pressure caused by a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid originates from the choroid plexus in the ventricular system, where it is reabsorbed in the arachnoid space. Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid is overproduced and reabsorption is slow, or it can also be caused by a blockage in the path of the cerebrospinal fluid.

There are many cases that can indicate intra-abdominal drainage, we can divide those cases into the following main groups of pathologies:
Group of congenital diseases:
Herniated medullary - membranous marrow. Narrowing due to blockage of brain drain. Occipital neck deformity. Cerebral vascular deformity. Hydrocephalus of unknown cause. Acquired diseases:
Compressed tumor. Bacterial infections due to the invasion of foreign bacteria and viruses (after meningitis has stabilized). After an accident, or serious brain injury. After intracerebral hemorrhage in the subarachnoid space and ventricles. In the elderly with hydrocephalus, there is no increase in intracranial pressure. Switch to intra-abdominal drainage when the floor of the brain fails.

Like many other small and large procedures, ventriculostomy also has certain contraindications: For all infections such as encephalitis, meningitis, dermatitis , sepsis, peritonitis, ... absolutely must not use this surgery. This helps to avoid the risk of death for the patient.

After checking the correct name, age, accurately identify the patient as well as prepare the instrument. The specialized procedures are conducted in turn as follows:
General anesthesia for the patient. The patient lies supine with the head tilted slightly to the right or left. Antiseptic around the patient's neck area. Spread acid according to the surgical area for the patient. Administer anesthesia. Make an incision on the forehead about 3cm and back at about 5cm in an arc. Make an incision in the abdomen in the right or left hypochondrium about 5cm to open the peritoneum. Place drainage under the scalp-neck-chest-abdomen. Open the patient's dura by drilling a hole in the skull. Insert the catheter into the ventricular region about 5cm. Connect the catheter to the drain. Insert the drainage into the abdomen about 20cm. Close all incisions. The above are some definitions and basic information for an intra-abdominal ventricular drain surgery. Hope this is a useful article to give you more understanding about medical procedures.