Combined ultrasound and fluoroscopy guided tunneled external lumbar drain placement in children
Frederic Bertino1, David S Shin1, John J Weaver1
1Division of Vascular & Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Insights
Ultrasound guidance can safely aid in placing tunneled lumbar drains for children with intracranial hypertension. This technique offers a potentially improved method for managing cerebrospinal fluid drainage in pediatric patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Medical Imaging
- Neurological Surgery
Background:
- External lumbar drains are effective for intracranial hypertension in children and adults.
- Ultrasound guidance is used for pediatric lumbar punctures but not routinely for tunneled lumbar drains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the use of ultrasound guidance for tunneled lumbar drain placement in pediatric cases.
- To evaluate the feasibility and application of this imaging modality in pediatric neurosurgery.
Main Methods:
- Case report detailing two pediatric patients.
- Utilized ultrasound guidance during the procedure for tunneled lumbar drain insertion.
Main Results:
- Successful placement of tunneled lumbar drains using ultrasound guidance in both cases.
- Demonstrated the practical application of ultrasound in this specific neurosurgical procedure.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound guidance is a viable tool for tunneled lumbar drain placement in children.
- This approach may enhance safety and efficacy in managing pediatric intracranial hypertension.
Abstract:
External lumbar drain placement has been shown to be an efficacious and safe approach to managing various forms of intracranial hypertension in adult patients and children. The use of ultrasound guidance for lumbar punctures in young patients has been described however, but the modality is not routinely used for the placement of tunneled lumbar drains. In this report, two cases are presented that detail experience using ultrasound guidance for tunneled lumbar drains in children.
