A multicenter retrospective study of heterogeneous tissue aggregates obstructing ventricular catheters explanted from patients with hydrocephalus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Implantation of ventricular catheters (VCs) to drain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a standard approach to treat hydrocephalus. VCs fail frequently due to tissue obstructing the lumen via the drainage holes. Mechanisms driving obstruction are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the histological features of VC obstructions and identify links to clinical factors.

Methods

343 VCs with relevant clinical data were collected from five centers. Each hole on the VCs was classified by degree of tissue obstruction after macroscopic analysis. A subgroup of 54 samples was analyzed using immunofluorescent labelling, histology and immunohistochemistry.

Results

61.5% of the 343 VCs analyzed had tissue aggregates occluding at least one hole (n = 211) however

SUBMITTER: Hariharan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8293524 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature