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Published on: October 14, 2022
[Surgical Site Infections in Hydrocephalus Surgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery]
Koichiro Sakamoto1, Kou Horikoshi, Kaito Kawamura
1Department of Neurosurgery, Juntendo University School of Medicine.
Insights
Hydrocephalus surgery infections remain high, especially in children, due to immature immunity and foreign devices. This review outlines strategies to minimize infection risks in neurosurgery, focusing on shunt procedures.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Disease
- Pediatric Surgery
Background:
- Hydrocephalus surgery, particularly shunt placement, has a high incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs).
- Pediatric patients face increased infection risk due to immature immune systems and skin barriers.
- Despite advancements, infection rates in hydrocephalus surgery have not significantly decreased.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current understanding of infectious complications in hydrocephalus surgery.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for minimizing infection risks.
- To outline infection prevention strategies for neurosurgical procedures, including shunt surgeries.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of infectious complications in hydrocephalus and general neurosurgery.
- Analysis of factors contributing to infection risk in pediatric patients.
- Synthesis of recommended infection prevention protocols.
Main Results:
- Surgical site infections are a persistent challenge in hydrocephalus and shunt surgeries.
- Pediatric factors significantly influence infection susceptibility.
- Validated infection prevention strategies are crucial for reducing complication rates.
Conclusions:
- Implementing evidence-based infection control measures is essential for hydrocephalus surgery.
- Targeted strategies are needed to mitigate risks in pediatric neurosurgery.
- Adherence to literature-validated protocols can improve outcomes and reduce infections.
Abstract:
Hydrocephalus surgery is one of the most frequently performed procedures in pediatric neurosurgery. The incidence of surgical site infections during this surgery is high. This complication has not improved with the evolution of neurosurgical procedures. This may be due to immature immune system and skin barrier function of children compared to adults and the fact that hydrocephalus surgery involves placement of an alien surgical device in the body. To overcome this issue, it is important to follow procedures that have been validated as beneficial for the prevention of infection in literature. Therefore, in this article, we present our current understanding of infectious complications of hydrocephalus surgery, including shunt device surgery in adults and non-hydrocephalus pediatric neurosurgery, and provide recommendations for minimizing infectious complications and strategies to prevent infections in these surgeries.
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