Ommaya reservoir infection rate: a 6-year retrospective cohort study of Ommaya reservoir in pediatrics.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we investigated Ommaya reservoir among pediatric patients, its infection rate, and the predisposing factors. We also investigated its role in the reduction of CSF protein. Finally, we explored other factors that would influence the decision to insert an Ommaya in comparison to external ventricular drainage. METHODS: This is a 6-year retrospective cohort study from a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: In our study, females were 48.9% (n = 22) while males were 51.1% (n = 23). The mean age at insertion was 2.9 days, SD of 1.67 day. The mean weight at insertion was 0.98 kg, SD of 0.57 kg. The total duration of Ommaya days was 2523 days. The median duration of the reservoir was 21 days. The Ommaya reservoir infection rate was 6.6%. We found an association between organisms cultured from urinary tract and the organisms cultured from the CSF. We also found that CSF protein level is lower in non-infected reservoirs in comparison to those with infection. The number of Ommaya days and the number of days of infection could not explain the mean CSF protein. CONCLUSIONS: Ommaya reservoir has a low infection rate. Although CSF protein increased by infection, we failed to prove that Ommaya tapping provides a reduction in the CSF protein and, hence, reduction of shunt malfunctions thereafter. We conclude with expert opinions that take into account the psychological factors in addition to the clinical sense in choosing between Ommaya reservoir and external ventricular drainage (EVD).