The combination of conventional EVD and Ommaya drainage for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH)

Background: The effect of Ommaya reservoirs on the clinical outcomes of patients with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) remains unclear. Objective: To determine the effect of combining the Ommaya reservoir and external ventricular drainage (EVD) therapy on IVH and to explore better clinical indicators for Ommaya implantation. Methods: : A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients diagnosed with IVH who received EVD-Ommaya drainage between January 2013 and March 2021. The patient population was divided into two groups: the Ommaya-used group, comprising of patients in whom the Ommaya drainage system was activated post-surgery, and the Ommaya-unused group, comprising of patients in whom the system was not activated. The study analyzed clinical, imaging, and outcome data of the patient population. Results: : A total of 123 patients with IVH were included: 75 patients in the Ommaya-used group and 48 patients in the Ommaya-unused group. The patients in the Ommaya-used group showed a lower 3-month GOS than those in the Ommaya-unused group (p<0.0001). The modified Graeb scale (mGS) in the Ommaya-unused group was significantly lower than that in the Ommaya-used group before the operation (p0.05). The GCS in the Ommaya-unused group was significantly lower than the other group, and there was a close correlation between the GCS and 3-month GOS (p<0.0001). The GCS score showed significance in predicting the use of Ommaya (p<0.001). Conclusions: : The study demonstrated that combining EVD and Ommaya drainage was an effective treatment for IVH. Additionally, preoperative GCS was found to predict the use of Ommaya drainage in subsequent treatment, providing valuable information for pre-surgery decision-making.