External ventricular drainage for control of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants

Over a 3-year period, 11 premature infants with intraventricular hemorrhage and posthemorrhhagic hydrocephalus were managed initially with prolonged external ventricular drainage via a subcutaneously tunneled catheter. The mean duration of drainage for this group was 20.7 days. Although two patients died before shunting was considered, no morbidity or mortality was observed to result from this technique. Seven patients required a shunt after stabilization of their medical problems. Two patients, followed for 24 and 40 months, have not required shunting procedures. External ventricular drainage via a subcutaneously tunneled catheter has been found to be a safe and reliable initial method of treating posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants.