External ventricular drain use is associated with functional outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Purpose: External ventricular drains (EVD) are commonly used in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients and can be life-saving by diverting cerebrospinal fluid. However, the overall relationship between EVD use and outcome is poorly understood.

Methods: In an exploratory analysis of an aSAH patient cohort, we examined EVD use in relation to modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at hospital discharge and at 6 months (unfavorable outcome = mRS > 2) using univariable and multivariable analyses.

Results: EVDs were placed in 31 of 56 (55.4%) patients and more often in women than men (66.7% vs 35.0%, p = 0.022) despite similar rates of hydrocephalus. Women had greater ICU [18 (13.5-25) vs 11.5 (6.5-18.5) days, p = 0.014] and hospital lengths of stay (LOS) [20.5 (16.5-34) vs 13.5 (10.5-27) days, p = 0.015] than men and greater mRS at discharge [4 (3-5) vs 3 (2-3.5), p = 0.011] although mRS at 6 months was similar. Patients with EVDs had longer ICU and hospital LOS and greater mRS at discharge [5 (3-6) vs 2 (2-3), p < 0.001] and at 6 months [4 (2-6) vs 1 (0-2), p = 0.001] than those without an EVD. In multivariable models, EVD use was associated with unfavorable 6-month outcome accounting for age, sex, and admission modified Fisher scale, but not in models adjusting for Hunt and Hess scale and World Federation of Neurological Surgeons scale.

Conclusion: In an aSAH cohort, the use of EVDs was associated with female sex and longer LOS, and may be linked to functional outcomes at discharge and at 6 months, although these associations warrant further investigation.