Evaluation of minimally invasive percutaneous CT-controlled ventriculostomy in patients with severe head trauma

Evaluation of percutaneous CT-controlled ventriculostomy (PCV) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury to measure intracranial pressure as a component of early clinical care. A consecutive series of 52 interventions with PCV was prospectively analyzed with regard to technical success, procedural time, time from the initial cranial computed tomography (CCT) until procedure and transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). Additionally, the data was compared with a retrospective control group of 12 patients with 13 procedures of conventional burr-hole ventriculostomy (OP-ICP). The PCV was successful in all cases (52 of 52; 95% CI 94–100%). In 1 case a minor hemorrhage into the ipsilateral lateral ventricle was observed on CT scans due to an initially unsuccessful puncture (95% CI 0–6%). No infections occurred (95% CI 0–6%). In the control group with OP-ICP one catheter infection and one unsuccessful catheter placement occurred (each 8%, 95% CI 0–20%). The PCV led to a significant decrease of procedure time from 45±11 min (OP-ICP) to 20±12 min (PCV). The interval from the initial CCT until procedure (PCV 28±11 min, OP-ICP 78±33 min) and transfer to the ICU (PCV 69±34 min, OP-ICP 138±34 min) could also be significantly reduced (each with p<0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test). Percutaneous CT-controlled ventriculostomy is a safe and efficient method for ICP catheter placement during initial trauma room management. It significantly reduces the time of initial trauma room treatment.