Global Trends in the Use of External Ventricular Drains
External Ventricular Drains An external ventricular drain (EVD) is a catheter that is inserted into the brain's ventricles to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from around the brain and reduce intracranial pressure. EVDs play an important role in the management of numerous neurological conditions including brain injuries, hemorrhages, infections, tumors and hydrocephalus. By draining CSF and reducing pressure, EVDs can help protect brain tissue and function. They allow for monitoring of ICP and collection of CSF samples for lab analysis. After placement, EVDs are typically connected to an external drainage system and monitored closely in an intensive care setting. Increasing Rate of EVD Placement Data from numerous countries indicates that the frequency of EVD placement is rising steadily on a global scale over the past decade. In the United States alone, the annual number of EVD procedures increased by over 30% between 2008 and 2018 according to a review of hospital discharg