A Review of External Ventricular Drain Placement at the Bedside Versus Operating Room

External ventricular drain (EVD) placement is a common neurosurgical procedure and provides a way to monitor intracranial pressure. EVDs are utilized in the management of a wide array of neurosurgical indications, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, trauma, intraventricular hemorrhage, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, and hydrocephalus. While generally regarded as safe, EVDs are associated with a significant risk of complications, such as hemorrhage, infection, and improper placement resulting in a need for replacement and the patient undergoing an additional procedure.

Significant research has been conducted reducing these complications, with a major focus on issues with the procedure itself, instruments utilized for EVD placement, or post-procedure care of the EVD. To the knowledge, few investigations have focused on the EVD placement environment ( the operating room versus the bedside). Aim to evaluate the circumstances and complications rates associated with EVD placement between these two settings at Methodist Dallas Medical Center (MDMC).