Introduction: External ventricular drainage is common neurosurgical intervention which mission is to drain excessive cerebrospinal fluid. Insertion of drainage is a routine procedure, which nevertheless can cause many complications. The most common complication is the infection of the central nervous system. Purpose: Purpose of this diploma work from nursing care perspective is to present prevention of cerebral spinal fluid infection of patients with inserted external ventricular drainage. We wanted to find out what is the incidence of cerebral spinal fluid infection, which are the most common causes for infection and how sampling of cerebral spinal fluid influences at the occurrence of infections. Methods: A descriptive method was used with critical review of Slovenian and foreign science literature. The search of literature was throughout the digital library data from Ljubljana University library (DiKUL), worldwide online basis CINAHL, Medline and COBIB.SI. The search of literature was throughout with help of key words: external ventricular drainage, infection, ventriculitis, meningitis; manipulation, cerebrospinal fluid sampling. Results: Observed incidence values of cerebral spinal fluid infection are very different in viewed literature are in range from 6,1 to 32,2 %. Because of different approaches at determining the incidence of infections, the results cannot be generalized. It was discovered, that more factors influences the occurrence of infection. The time of duration of inserted drainage is important, the infection usually occurs on the 6.5 day after the insertion.
Hemorrhagic event, preliminary system infection, more multiple drainage inserted, lumbar drainage, catheter leaking at insertion site and frequent cerebrospinal fluid sampling are factors that increase danger for the occurrence of cerebral spinal fluid infection. Discussion and conclusion: Nurse must always monitor the patient with inserted external ventricular drainage. She must correctly handle the system. She must know the signs, which show the occurrence of infection and in time take action. It would make sense, that simple protocols would be implemented in Slovenia, which would cover insertion and care of the catheter and would be intended for surgeons, doctors and nurses. Guidelines and protocols should be reviewed and restored.
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