Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pediatric and Young-Adult (AYA) brain tumors often present with hydrocephalus. As temporary cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedure, we perform long-term indwelling external ventricular drainage (EVD) in the case of the management of CSF diversion more than two weeks presumably. The aim of this study is to investigate the initial management for hydrocephalus in pediatric /AYA patients with brain tumor, especially about long-term EVD.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The patients less than 30 years of age diagnosed with brain tumor between 2005 and 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Procedures of long-term EVD were similar to that of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) operation. Using flow-control VPS system, peritoneal catheter passed out of the body at the anterior chest, and distal end of the catheter was connected to standard EVD system.
RESULTS
In total of 345 patients with brain tumor, 109 had hydrocephalus at presentation. Among them, 25 patients (23%) underwent long-term EVD. The main reasons for selecting long-term EVD were to avoid intraperitoneal dissemination (n=13), and to maintain longer period of CSF diversion for the treatment of tumor (n=12). The median of long-term EVD was 38 days (range: 12 – 222 days). Although one case suffered from drainage tube occlusion at 59 days, there were no other complications such as infection or accidental evulsion. Eventually, 3 cases required permanent VPS for persistent hydrocephalus.
CONCLUSION
Long-term EVD is safe and effective option for CSF diversion. This procedure should be taken into consideration if patients have a risk of dissemination and may elude permanent VPS.
Long-term surgical outcomes of temporal lobe epilepsy associated with low-grade brain tumors