External ventricular drain use is associated with functional outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage

External ventricular drains (EVD) are commonly used in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients and can be life-saving by diverting cerebrospinal fluid. However, the overall relationship between EVD use and outcome is poorly understood.

In an exploratory analysis of an aSAH patient cohort, we examined EVD use in relation to modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at hospital discharge and at 6 months (unfavorable outcome = mRS > 2) using univariable and multivariable analyses.

EVDs were placed in 31 of 56 (55.4%) patients and more often in women than men (66.7% vs 35.0%, p = 0.022) despite similar rates of hydrocephalus. Women had greater ICU [18 (13.5–25) vs 11.5 (6.5–18.5) days, p = 0.014] and hospital lengths of stay (LOS) [20.5 (16.5–34) vs 13.5 (10.5–27) days, p = 0.015] than men and greater mRS at discharge [4 (3–5) vs 3 (2–3.5), p = 0.011] although mRS at 6 months was similar. Patients with EVDs had longer ICU and hospital LOS and greater mRS at discharge [5 (3–6) vs 2 (2–3), p < 0.001] and at 6 months [4 (2–6) vs 1 (0–2), p = 0.001] than those without an EVD. In multivariable models, EVD use was associated with unfavorable 6-month outcome accounting for age, sex, and admission modified Fisher scale, but not in models adjusting for Hunt and Hess scale and World Federation of Neurological Surgeons scale.

In an aSAH cohort, the use of EVDs was associated with female sex and longer LOS, and may be linked to functional outcomes at discharge and at 6 months, although these associations warrant further investigation.