Cannulating The Ventricle

With a frontal (and parietal) burr hole now made, passing a ventricular catheter or Dandy brain needle into the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle is the next surgical manoeuvre.

Keeping the catheter/needle perpendicular to the burr hole and applying firmish pressure along it should cause the ventricle to be entered with a realistic ‘give’, followed by egress of ‘CSF’ upon withdrawal of the stylet.

The rest of the external ventricular drain (EVD) can then be tunnelled using the harpoon provided, anchored to the scalp with a variety of proprietary anchoring devices, and the ‘skin’ closed with staples.