Preassembled method for insertion of Ommaya reservoir

Abstract

Present a revised neurosurgical technique for insertion of the Ommaya reservoir that we have routinely utilized and found to have fewer complications that the standard approach. Randomized retrospective study of 20 patients who underwent insertion of Ommaya reservoir with the preassembled technique. Major university hospital. Twenty patients who underwent Ommaya reservoir placement within the last 5 years were randomly selected for chart and computed tomography review. A new preassembled technique for Ommaya reservoir placement was utilized in all 20 patients. Retrospective review of the patient records and computed tomography scans of 20 patients undergoing Ommaya placement were performed to assess ventricular catheter placement and any postoperative complications. In all 20 patients, we had consistent ipsilateral right frontal horn placement of ventricular catheter and had no postoperative morbidities, reoperations for ventricular catheter positioning or mortalities. This technique reduces overall operative time, decreases risk for intraoperative infection, and poor ventricular catheter placement by eliminating the manipulation step of connecting the reservoir to the catheter in vivo.