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sEVD-smartphone-navigated placement of external ventricular drains
Christian V Eisenring1,2,3, Felice Burn4,5, Michelle Baumann4
1Department of Neurosurgery, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Freiburgstrasse 10, 3010, Bern, Switzerland. christian.eisenring@gmail.com.
Acta Neurochirurgica
|November 26, 2019
Summary
This study introduces a smartphone-guided technique for external ventricular drain (EVD) placement, improving accuracy and efficiency in EVD insertion. The novel method offers a precise, rapid, and individualized approach for neurosurgical procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Devices
- Image-guided Surgery
Background:
- External ventricular drains (EVDs) are crucial for managing intracranial pressure.
- Traditional EVD insertion relies on anatomical landmarks, leading to frequent malpositioning and complications.
- A need exists for improved, accurate, and efficient EVD placement techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel smartphone-guided, angle-adjusted technique for EVD insertion (sEVD).
- To compare the sEVD technique against traditional methods in artificial and cadaveric models.
Main Methods:
- Computed tomography (CT) was used to determine optimal intracranial trajectories for EVDs.
- A smartphone was calibrated and utilized as a protractor for angle-adjusted insertions.
- Twenty EVDs were placed using the sEVD technique in a head model and cadaveric head, with positions verified by post-interventional CT.
Main Results:
- All 20 smartphone-guided EVDs (sEVDs) were accurately placed in the ipsilateral ventricle.
- Mean target deviation was minimal in both the head model (1.73°) and cadaveric head (3.45°).
- The procedure, including preoperative measurements and implantation, averaged 12 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-guided EVD placement is a precise, rapid, and patient-individualized freehand technique.
- This innovative navigation method utilizes a widely available, low-cost multifunctional device.
- The sEVD technique offers a significant advancement over conventional landmark-based EVD insertion.
