Ommaya reservoir (OR)
Ayub Ommaya first reported the Ommaya reservoir in 1963. The reservoir is a subcutaneous implant for repeated intrathecal injections, to treat hydrocephalus and malignant tumors 1)
Indications
Ommaya reservoir implantation
Post Op
CT head performed post-operatively confirmed proper placement of ventricular catheter in the right frontal horn with the tip at the foramen of Monro.
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Complications
A total of 20 patients with a median age of 3.3 years at VCSR implantation received 31 VCSR. Overall, 19 complications in 11 patients were recorded: 7 patients had a VCSR-related infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci, 4 of these probably as a surgical complication and 3 probably related to VCSR use. Systemic perioperative prophylaxis was administered in 22 cases, and intraventricular vancomycin and gentamicin were given in 8 cases (none of which subsequently developed an infection). Other complications included wound dehiscence, catheter malplacement, and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Overall, 17 VCSR were explanted due to complications. Conclusion Infections were the most frequent VCSR-related complication. In our own institution, the high rate of complications led to the definition of a bundle of measures as a standard operating procedure for VCSR placement and use. Prospective studies in larger patient collectives are warranted to better identify risk factors and evaluate preventive measures such as the administration of perioperative antibiotics and the use of antimicrobial coating of catheters 2).
Among 501 OR placements, 40 patients (8%) developed an Ommaya reservoir-related infections ORRI. These presented with meningitis and/or meningoencephalitis (60%), cellulitis (20%), or a combination thereof (20%). Approximately 40% occurred ≤30 days of OR placement, while 60% occurred ≤10 days after the device was last accessed. Only 20% presented with leukocytosis, while another 18% had a normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Gram-positive skin flora accounted >80% of the pathogens. The median hospital stay and duration of antibiotics were 13 and 24 days, respectively. Although mortality rates (≈10%) were similar among all treatment groups (p > 0.99), shorter hospitalization and antimicrobial treatment durations were obtained with early versus late device removal (p < 0.038). As clinical symptoms can be non-specific and CSF parameters may be within normal limits, a high suspicion for infection is required. The shortest hospitalization and treatment course was achieved with early device removal 3).