2022 Volume 6 Issue 1 Pages 9-15
Most primary malignant brain tumors recur and follow an unfortunate turning point despite aggressive treatment. In particular, the prognosis of cerebrospinal fluid dissemination due to recurrence is 1-2 months, and death usually occurs during hospitalization. We report a case of discharge from the hospital due to home-based continuous ventricular cerebrospinal fluid drainage.
A 24-year-old woman was in remission after surgery and chemotherapy for medulloblastoma. But five years later she developed hydrocephalus from tumor recurrence and meningeal dissemination. Severe headache and vomiting improved due to ventricular reservoir placement and intermittent cerebrospinal fluid removal, and she was discharged from the hospital. Although the cerebrospinal fluid was removed intermittently, the amount of cerebrospinal fluid removed increased and continuous cerebrospinal fluid drainage was required, so a siphon system for cerebrospinal fluid drainage was installed at home. She was able to live at home for about a month during the day, including eating and taking a walk with caregiving, while performing continuous cerebrospinal fluid drainage at night.
We will discuss and report on the effectiveness and problems of introducing a siphon system in home medical care.
