Initial experience with silver-impregnated polyurethane ventricular catheter for shunting of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with infected hydrocephalus.

Objective: Infection is a major complication and risk factor of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting procedures. Recently, antibiotic-impregnated shunt systems have been developed in an attempt to prevent or reduce the CSF infection. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of silver-impregnated polyurethane ventricular catheter for shunting of CSF in patients with infected hydrocephalus.

Methods: Seven patients who had hydrocephalus with high protein level and positive CSF culture underwent implantation of ventriculoperitoneal shunt with silver-impregnated polyurethane ventricular catheter. All of them experienced shunt failure previously due to infection. The Silverline ventricular catheter, which was connected to the Miethke gravity-assisted valve system and peritoneal catheter, was used in all patients. The mean follow-up period after operation was 14 months. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from the reservoir of the shunts were obtained at the end of the third month after operation in all patients.

Results: The CSF protein level of the patients was reduced significantly, and the CSF culture became negative after shunt placement with silver-impregnated polyurethane ventricular catheters. The mean CSF silver (Ag) level was 0.51 ng/ml [parts per billion (ppb)], and blood Ag level was 3.65 ng/ml (ppb) at the first month after operation. No shunt obstruction or infection was observed in the follow-up period.

Conclusion: Silver-impregnated polyurethane ventricular catheters appear to be safe and well tolerated in patients who sustained infected hydrocephalus. Preliminary results suggest a complete improvement of infection. Longer follow-up and large number of patients are needed to more accurately assess the efficacy of these catheters.