Two-point Loop Suture Fixation May Reduce Catheter Displacement in Cisternal and External Ventricular Drains

In this retrospective, single-center, before-and-after comparison study, we report a simple and reliable method for securing cisternal or external ventricular drain catheters to the scalp to prevent accidental catheter displacement. This method involves fixation of the catheter at 2 points with loop sutures. A 10-year retrospective review was conducted in 39 consecutive patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage who underwent placement of either a cisternal drainage catheter (n = 15) or an external ventricular drainage catheter (n = 24) at our institution. Conventional single-point suture fixation (non-loop method, n = 15) was compared with two-point loop suture fixation (loop method, n = 24).No accidental pullout occurred in the loop method group, whereas one pullout was observed in the non-loop method. The mean duration of catheter placement did not differ significantly between the 2 groups (4.93 vs. 4.13 days, p = 0.25). However, the mean daily catheter displacement was greater with the non-loop method than with the loop method (1.05 vs. 0.28 mm/day, p = 0.01). These findings suggest that the loop method was associated with reduced daily catheter displacement. The loop suture fixation method is a simple and reliable method for securing cisternal drainage catheter or external ventricular drainage catheters to the scalp and may reduce the risk of accidental catheter displacement.