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ventriculostomy
A medical treatment used to assess and respond to severe head trauma, which, if untreated, can result in permanent brain damage or brain death. Ventriculostomy is used when brain surgery or injury produces excess blood or cerebrospinal fluid (which surrounds and protects the brain) in the head. It involves receiving anesethetic, a tiny hole drilled into the skull, and administration of an intracranial pressure catheter.

Keywords
ventriculostomy, intracranial, pressure, catheter, brain, swelling, drain, excess, fluid, cerebrospinal
Last modified at 9/8/2009 9:19 AM  by Committee 
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