Silver Impregnated Line Versus External Ventricular Drains (EVD) Randomised Trial

Silver Impregnated Line Versus EVD Randomised Trial and Cerebrospinal Fluid Infection from the use of External Ventricular Drains

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN29451493

Enrollment

280

Registered

2005-12-20

Start date

2005-06-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Cerebrospinal fluid infection, external ventricular drains for raised intracranial pressure, ventriculomegaly or hydrocephalus Circulatory System Other disorders of brain

Interventions

Current information as of 19/04/10: Participants were randomised to receive either a silver impregnated EVD or a plain standard EVD for the duration of their EVD requirement to treat raised intracrani

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Current information as of 19/04/10: All patients 17 years and over requiring an EVD for management of their intracranial pathology referred to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge and Wessex Neurological Centre, Southampton Initial information at time of registration: All patients requiring an EVD for management of their intracranial pathology referred to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients with a known allergy to silver 2. Patients who are pregnant 3. The presence of infection or dermatitis at the catheter insertion site 4. Known cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection (gram-stain or culture of organisms) 5. A previous EVD placement within the previous 30 days 6. Refractory coagulopathy 7. Currently the trial is only open to patients who are 17 years or above

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Current information as of 19/04/10: CSF infection as defined by organisms seen on gram stain or grown on culture during the EVD period Initial information at time of registration CSF infection confirmed by culture of organisms	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Current information as of 19/04/10: 1. Number of EVD replacements 2. Duration of EVD placement 3. Antibiotic treatment required for CSF infection (confirmed or suspected) 4. Total time from admission to discharge 5. Permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt required at 6 months 6. Clinical outcome at discharge (Glasgow Coma Score) Initial information at time of registration: 1. Number of EVD replacements 2. Duration of EVD placement 3. Antibiotic treatment required for CSF infection (confirmed or suspected) 4. Total time from admission to discharge 5. Permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt required 6. Clinical outcome at discharge (Glasgow Coma Score)	—

Measure

Time frame

Current information as of 19/04/10: 1. Number of EVD replacements 2. Duration of EVD placement 3. Antibiotic treatment required for CSF infection (confirmed or suspected) 4. Total time from admission to discharge 5. Permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt required at 6 months 6. Clinical outcome at discharge (Glasgow Coma Score) Initial information at time of registration: 1. Number of EVD replacements 2. Duration of EVD placement 3. Antibiotic treatment required for CSF infection (confirmed or suspected) 4. Total time from admission to discharge 5. Permanent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt required 6. Clinical outcome at discharge (Glasgow Coma Score)

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Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026