A METHOD FOR CONTINUOUS EXTERNAL DRAINAGE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFANTILE SUBDURAL COLLECTIONS

There is no consensus on the management of infantile chronic subdural collections. Subdural tapping, craniotomy and removal of membranes, an d shunting from the subdural space have all been used. We performed co ntinuous external subdural drainage (CESD) as a step prior to subdural -peritoneal shunt placement in the management of infantile chronic sub dural fluid collections. A lumbar drainage set was used for CESD. The catheter was placed in the subdural space through the anterior fontane l with a Touhy needle. This percutaneous technique seems an easy and s afe method for CESD in infants with chronic subdural collections.