Controlled Suction with Venous Catheter Irrigation in Neurosurgery: A Cost Effective Technique

Keeping the operating field clean and visible is an important technique in neurosurgery. Continuous irrigation-suction (IS) of the surgical field is currently often done using devices available that are expensive and demand technical proficiency. We report a simple method of continuous IS using a widely available central venous catheter and a controlled suction cannula.

We used a controlled suction cannula attached to a central suction system. A single lumen central venous catheter is passed through the keyhole of a controlled suction cannula, which is connected to a continuous irrigation system.

The operative field was clean throughout the procedure, obviating the need for an assisting surgeon to irrigate into the deep operating field and, hence, reducing the duration of surgery.

The proposed IS system could be surgeon friendly, easily manageable, yet cost-effective and efficient.