External Ventricular and Lumbar Drains: Indications, Procedures, and Patient Care

The definitive guide to managing external ventricular and lumbar drains—a common but overlooked procedure in medical literature

The most common point of contact with providers in neurocritical care units, trauma units, and emergency departments, external ventricular drains and lumbar drains are used to relieve elevated intracranial pressure, usually due to a brain hemorrhage from acute trauma.

Covering indications, anatomy, planning, and procedure stages for each drain, External Ventricular and Lumbar Drains: Indications, Procedures, and Patient Care helps you troubleshoot problems that can arise in patients who undergo this procedure. The authors provide thorough coverage of why these drains are placed, why they are placed in certain locations, how they are placed, and what steps to take when there is a malfunction. This comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide covers:

Cerebrospinal fluid anatomy

Obstructive and communicating hydrocephalus

Intracranial pressure monitoring

Ventricular and lumbar entrance points

EVD and LD equipment, patient positioning, procedure, and troubleshooting