Related Experiment Videos
Non-shaved ventriculoperitoneal shunt in Thailand
Sanguansin Ratanalert1, Paphan Musikawat, Thakul Oearsakul
1Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand. rsanguan@ratree.psu.ac.th
Summary
For ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, not shaving the scalp is safe. This study found no increased shunt infection risk in non-shaved patients compared to shaved patients undergoing this procedure.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Disease Prevention
- Surgical Techniques
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are common for hydrocephalus treatment.
- Scalp preparation, including shaving, is a standard surgical step.
- The necessity of shaving for shunt surgery infection rates is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare shunt infection rates between non-shaved and shaved patients undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt operations.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of non-shaved scalp preparation in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Prospective clinical trial comparing non-shaved and shaved scalp preparation for ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery.
- Inclusion of 119 patients from January 1994 to December 1999, with specific exclusion criteria.
- Statistical analysis including univariate, multivariate, and logistic regression to identify risk factors.
Main Results:
- The shunt infection rate was 6.25% in the non-shaved group and 14.94% in the shaved group (p>0.05).
- Operation duration exceeding 59 minutes was the only significant risk factor for shunt infection.
- No statistically significant difference in infection rates was observed between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Non-shaved scalp preparation is a safe alternative for ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery.
- Maintaining intact hair does not increase the risk of shunt infection.
- This approach may improve patient psychological well-being and expedite recovery.