Comparison of drainage efficiency between unilateral and bilateral external ventricular drainage in intraventricular hemorrhage with hydrocephalus

Objective To explore the differences of the drainage efficiency between unilateral external ventricular drainage and bilateral external ventricular drainage in surgical treatment of intraventricular hemorrhage. Methods The clinical data of 56 patients with intraventricular hemorrhage treated by unilateral and bilateral external ventricular drainage were retrospectively analyzed. 24 cases were treated by unilateral external ventricular drainage (unilateral group), 32 cases were treated by bilateral external ventricular drainage (bilateral group). The hematoma clearance rate, duration of catheter drainage, the average daily cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage volume, the times of injecting the urokinase and the average hospital days in the intensive care unit (ICU) were recorded, and compared between two groups. Results In the group of unilateral drainage tube and group of bilateral drainage tube, the clearance rate of hematoma was (74.6±8.7)% and (78.5±12.5)%, comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant(t=1.308, P=0.196); the daily CSF drainage volume was (124.6±40.2) ml and that was (139.6±41.7) ml, comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant(t=1.353, P=0.182); the times of injecting the urokinase was (4.42±1.26) and (4.06±1.39), comparison between the two groups was not statistically significant (t=0.998, P=0.323); the hospital stay in the ICU was (10.6±3.6) days and (13.3±5.0) days respectively, there was a significant difference between the two groups (t=2.243, P=0.029). The duration of catheter drainage in group of unilateral drainage tube was (5.0±1.7) days, and that was (6.6±2.2) days in group of bilateral drainage tube, and there was significant difference between the two groups (t=2.959, P=0.005). Conclusion The bilateral external drainage can not improve the hematoma clearance rate, reduce the times of injecting the urokinase and lower the hospitalization days in the ICU of the patients. Key words: Intraventricular hemorrhage; External ventricular drainage; The hematoma clearance rate