Image-guided External Ventricular Drain Placement Trial: a Prospective Randomized-controlled Trial Pilot

An external ventricular drain (EVD) is a small tube that is placed into a space in the brain called a ventricle. This is done to drain fluid in the brain that sometimes builds up as a result of surgery or a traumatic brain injury/accident. This is one of most commonly performed procedures in Neurosurgery and is done bedside, not in the operating room. Typically, surgeons will use the "free-hand" technique to place these drains which involves relying on a CT scan, which shows the structures inside of the brain, and their knowledge of the anatomy of the brain and where the EVD should be placed. Image-guidance systems exist which create real time imaging of the patients brain and can act like a GPS to help guide the placement of the EVD in the correct spot. This trial is planned to determine if using the image guidance system does offer improved accuracy in EVD placement, lowering the number of attempts required and therefore the amount of time spent placing the EVD and risk of complications and infections. A pilot study will be done first, using a convenience sample at the Hamilton General Hospital to determine the feasibility of running a larger scale trial in the future.