Do Complication Rates of Ventricular Drain Placement Differ between Twist Drill and Burr Hole in Acute Hydrocephalus?

Objective:  The aim of the study was to compare two techniques for external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement with respect to their complication rates.

Methods:  A retrospective descriptive study was performed to analyze all patients who had undergone EVD implantation for acute hydrocephalus between January 2010 and December 2013 with a focus on surgical technique and rate of complications. The burr hole technique (BHT) was used in one group and the twist-drill technique (TDT) in the other.