Ventriculostomy

Ventriculostomy (pronounced ven-trick-you-low-stow-me) is a neurosurgical procedure that involves creating an opening within the cerebral ventricles for drainage.

Etymology

The term "ventriculostomy" is derived from the Latin word "ventriculus," which means "small belly" or "cavity," and the Greek word "stoma," which means "mouth" or "opening."

Procedure

A ventriculostomy is performed by a neurosurgeon to relieve elevated intracranial pressure. This is often due to conditions such as hydrocephalus, where there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. The procedure involves drilling a hole in the skull and inserting a catheter into the cerebral ventricles. The catheter allows the excess CSF to drain, thereby reducing pressure.

Types of Ventriculostomy

There are two main types of ventriculostomy procedures: external ventricular drain (EVD) and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).

External Ventricular Drain (EVD): This is the most common type of ventriculostomy. It involves the placement of a catheter into the ventricles of the brain, which is then connected to an external drainage system.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV): This is a minimally invasive procedure that involves creating a hole in the floor of the third ventricle using an endoscope. This allows the CSF to bypass the obstruction and flow into the subarachnoid space where it can be reabsorbed.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Ventriculostomy
Wikipedia's article - Ventriculostomy

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Ventriculostomy