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Cerebrospinal Fluid Drainage Catheter: Function, Indications, and Management of Intracranial Pressure
A **Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Drainage Catheter** is a sterile, flexible tube used in a neurological or neurosurgical setting to temporarily or permanently divert and control the flow of CSF, the clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Its primary function is to manage and monitor **intracranial pressure (ICP)** by allowing for the controlled removal of excess fluid, a critical intervention in conditions such as hydrocephalus, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or following complex neurosurgical procedures. The placement and management of this catheter require meticulous technique and continuous monitoring to ensure patient safety and therapeutic efficacy.
CSF is continuously produced, circulated, and reabsorbed. An imbalance in this dynamic can lead to a dangerous buildup of pressure within the skull. CSF drainage catheters can be placed in two primary locations: **external ventricular drains (EVDs)** are placed directly into one of the brain's ventricles to drain excess fluid and monitor ICP directly,…