Neuroendoscopic Evacuation Improves Outcomes Compared with External Ventricular Drainage in Patients with Spontaneous...

Spontaneous intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment for resulting obstructive hydrocephalus has traditionally been via an external ventricular drain (EVD). We aimed to compare patient outcomes after neuroendoscopic surgery (NES) evacuation of IVH versus EVD management.

MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched on October 8, 2022. Of the 252 records remaining after removal of duplicates, 12 met study inclusion criteria. After extraction of outcomes data, fixed-effect and random-effects models were used to establish odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for intensive care unit length of stay, rate of permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion, Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and mortality rate.

The results of the pooled analysis showed that intensive care unit length of stay was shorter (OR -2.61 [95% CI -5.02, -0.19]; I² = 97.76%; P = 0.034), permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion was less likely (OR -0.79, 95% CI [-1.17, -0.41], I² = 46.96%, P < 0.001), higher Glasgow Outcome Scale score was more likely (OR 0.48, 95% CI [0.04, 0.93], I² = 60.12%, P = 0.032), and all-cause mortality was less likely (OR -1.11, 95% CI [-1.79, -0.44], I² = 0%, P = 0.001) in the NES evacuation group compared with the EVD group.

NES for evacuation of spontaneous IVH results in reduced intensive care unit length of stay, reduced permanent cerebrospinal fluid diversion rates, improved Glasgow Outcome Scale score, and reduced mortality when compared with EVD. More robust prospective, randomized studies are necessary to help inform the safety and utility of NES for IVH.