A survey on current practice in the neurosurgical management of preterm infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in Germany

Epidemiology of post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation in very preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence, trends, management's variability and short-term outcomes of preterm infants with severe post-hemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (sPHVD).

METHODS

We reviewed infants <33 weeks' gestation who had PHVD and were admitted to the Canadian Neonatal Network between 2010 and 2018. We compared perinatal characteristics and short-term outcomes between those with sPHVD and those with mild/moderate PHVD and those with and without ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt.

RESULTS

Of 29,417 infants, 2439 (8%) had PHVD; rate increased from 7.3% in 2010 to 9.6% in 2018 (P = 0.005). Among infants with PHVD, sPHVD (19%) and VP shunt (29%) rates varied significantly across Canadian centers and between geographic regions (P < 0.01 and P = 0.0002). On multivariable analysis, sPHVD was associated with greater mortality, seizures and meningitis compared to mild/moderate PHVD.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant variability in sPHVD and VP shunt rates exists between centers and regions in Canada. sPHVD was associated with increased mortality and morbidities.

The Cost of Serial Cerebrospinal Fluid Aspirations between Ventricular Access Device and Ventriculosubgaleal Shunt for Treatment of Posthemorrhagic Ventricular Dilatation in Premature Infants

INTRODUCTION

Ventriculosubgaleal shunts (VSGSs) require fewer cerebrospinal (CSF) aspirations than ventricular access devices (VADs) for temporization of posthemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) in preterm infants. Cost of postoperative CSF aspiration has not been quantified.

METHODS

We reviewed CSF aspiration and laboratory studies obtained in preterm infants with PHVD and VAD at our institution between 2009 and 2020. Cost per aspiration was calculated for materials, labs, and Medicare fee schedule for ventricular puncture through implanted reservoir. We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science for meta-analysis of pooled mean number of CSF aspirations and proportion of patients requiring aspiration.

RESULTS

Thirty-five preterm infants with PHVD had VAD placed with 22.2 ± 18.4 aspirations per patient. Labs were obtained after every aspiration per local protocol. Cost per aspiration at our institution was USD 935.51. Of 269 published studies, 77 reported on VAD, 29 VSGS, and 13 both. Five studies on VAD (including the current study) had a pooled mean of 25.8 aspirations per patient (95% CI: 16.7-34.8). One study on VSGS reported a mean of 1.6 ± 1.7 aspirations. Three studies on VAD (including the current study) had a pooled proportion of 97.4% of patients requiring aspirations (95% CI: 87.9-99.5). Four studies on VSGS had a pooled proportion of 36.5% requiring aspirations (95% CI: 26.9-47.2). Frequency of lab draws ranged from weekly to daily. Based on costs at our institution, mean number of aspirations, and proportion of patients requiring aspirations, cost difference ranged between USD 4,243 and 23,235 per patient and USD 500,903 and 2.36 million per 100 patients depending on frequency of taps and Medicare locality.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

Lower number of CSF aspirations using VSGS can be associated with considerably lower cost compared to VAD.

Bedside placement of ventricular access devices under local anaesthesia in neonates with posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus: preliminary experience

PURPOSE

Posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation in preterm infants is primarily treated using temporising measures, of which the placement of a ventricular access device (VAD) is one option. Permanent shunt dependency rates are high, though vary widely. In order to improve the treatment burden and lower shunt dependency rates, we implemented several changes over the years. One of these changes involves the setting of the surgery from general anaesthesia in the OR to local anaesthesia in bed at the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which may seem counterintuitive to many. In this article, we describe our surgical technique and present the results of this regimen and compare it to our previous techniques.

METHODS

Retrospective study of a consecutive series of 37 neonates with posthaemorrhagic ventricular dilatation (PHVD) treated using a VAD, with a cohort I (n = 13) treated from 2004 to 2008 under general anaesthesia in the OR, cohort II (n = 11) treated from 2009 to 2013 under general anaesthesia in the NICU and cohort III (n = 13) treated from December 2013 to December 2017 under local anaesthesia on the NICU.

RESULTS

The overall infection rate was 14%; the VAD revision rate was 22% and did not differ significantly between the cohorts. Procedures under local anaesthesia never required conversion to general anaesthesia and were well tolerated. After an average of 33 tapping days, 38% of the neonates received a permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. The permanent VP shunt rate was 9% with VAD placement under local anaesthesia and 52% when performed under general anaesthesia (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Bedside placement of VADs for PHVD under local anaesthesia in neonates is a low-risk, well-tolerated procedure that results in at least equal results to surgery performed under general anaesthesia and/or performed in an OR.

Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in extremely low birth weight infants: Ommaya reservoir vs. ventriculoperitoneal shunt

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to analyze morbidity and initial surgery in infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) by comparing infants who were treated with a subcutaneous cerebrospinal fluid reservoir (Ommaya reservoir = CSF_R) with infants who primarily received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS).

METHOD

Inclusion criteria were infants born between January 2006 and June 2014 who had a diagnosis of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and underwent surgical intervention for hydrocephalus.

RESULTS

Twenty-five infants, with a median gestational age (GA) of 26.5 (28 ± 4) weeks and a median birth weight (BW) of 980 g (1205 ± 837), were included. The median umbilical artery pH (UApH) was 7.30 (7.20 ± 0.25). The median Apgar score at 10 min was 8 (7.4 ± 2). Twenty-five peri- and postnatal adverse events were encountered preoperatively. The IVH grades were grade II (n = 1), grade III (n = 17), grade IV (n = 6), and unknown grade (n = 1). Primary treatment consisted of CSF_R (n = 18) or VPS (n = 7) placement. There was a statistically significant difference between the postnatal ages of infants with CSF_R (32.5 days; 42 ± 28) and infants with VPS (163 days; 161 ± 18). Furthermore, we found a difference regarding GA but not BW between both groups. Arrest of PHH with shunt independence occurred in two infants from the CSF_R group (11%).

CONCLUSIONS

In the present study, early insertion of CSF_R allowed stabilization of the infants and thus postponement of permanent VPS insertion. However, in a subgroup of patients, PHH develops over a more prolonged course, and VPS insertion can be performed initially without the need for CSF_R.