• Guilu He, Jianhao Lin, Jing Ye, Fobao Huang, Changzhi Yan, Zesi Liu, Xiuming Zhou, Qiao Li, and Liang Zhang.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Jan 1; 181: 939593-95.

BackgroundExternal ventricular drain (EVD) is a basic operation in neurosurgery. Due to the limitation of its safe duration, some patients need to receive multiple drainage operations. We describe the long tunneled EVD (LTEVD) with shunt valves that effectively avoid multiple operations as a technical note.MethodsThe difference is that the middle part of the drainage tube is connected by an externalized shunt valve. The drainage tube is buried under the skin and the outlet is in the abdomen. The technique and more details are described.ResultsThe connection between the LTEVD and the shunt valve is simple and the required materials are easily accessible. Externalized valves allow the cerebrospinal fluid to be visualized and more controllable, making it easier for physicians to manage the cerebrospinal fluid. No drainage tube failure or secondary infection was observed. The indwelling time of the drainage tube was greatly extended.ConclusionsLTEVD is effective and simple. It allows visual control of drainage flow, prolonging catheter indwelling time and eliminating the need for multiple surgeries.Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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