External spinal drainage
External spinal drainage can be both an independent intervention and a stage of surgery. As an independent procedure, the installation of external spinal drainage is performed for cerebrospinal fluid of various origins . The drainage is installed for 5-7 days and allows for the controlled removal of cerebrospinal fluid, thereby contributing to the healing of the defect through which it leaks.
As a surgical procedure, drainage is used in operations for aneurysms and brain tumors to reduce intracranial pressure. Drainage is also installed when prolonged endolumbar administration of medications is necessary.
The drainage is installed with the patient lying on their side, under local anesthesia. A spinal puncture is performed with a special needle, through which a thin catheter is inserted, the catheter is fixed on the skin and connected to a sterile bottle.
The most common complication of such manipulation is infection, so the patient is immediately prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy. External spinal drainage is increasingly used in neurosurgical practice due to its effectiveness and relative ease of implementation.
Zhuravlev O.F., Dmytruk V.S.
