Ventricular access device

An indwelling ventricular catheter connected to a reservoir that is positioned under the scalp for the purpose of chronic access to the intrathecal space (usually the ventricular system), or sometimes other intracranial compartments such as tumor cysts. Sometimes referred to generically as an Ommaya reservoir; however, this is actually a trade name.

1. administration of intrathecal (IT) antineoplastic chemotherapy:

Patients with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis face a particularly grim prognosis. Current treatment consists of intrathecal delivery of methotrexate (MTX) or cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C) via ventricular access device (Ommaya reservoir) or lumbar puncture. Yet despite these interventions, the median survival after diagnosis is only 4-7 months ¹⁾.

a) For CNS lymphoma or leukemia

b) IT chemotherapy is often used for the following even in the absence of CNS involvement because of the high relapse rate in the CNS: acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphoblastic lymphoma, Burkitt’s lymphoma

2. administration of intrathecal antibiotic for chronic meningitis

3. chronic removal of CSF from infants with intraventricular hemorrhage

4. for fluid aspiration from a chronic tumor cyst that is resistant to therapy (radiation or surgery)