Could ventriculoperitoneal shunt and tracheotomy procedures be realized in the same surgical time?
BACKGROUND
Both tracheotomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunting procedures may be required for the same critically ill patient. However, the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) may be increased if both procedures are performed simultaneously.


METHOD
We performed a retrospective analysis of 41 consecutive patients who underwent both procedures simultaneously in our institution between March 2000 and January 2008.


RESULTS
Analysis revealed no difference in SSI rate between patients undergoing both procedures simultaneously and in staged procedures.


CONCLUSIONS
VP shunting and tracheotomy procedures could be performed simultaneously without increasing the risk of surgical site infection. Such strategy may shorten the length of stay in critical care units.
['Seizeur|R|R|', 'Magro|E|E|', 'Allano|V|V|', 'Abed-Rabbo|F|F|', 'Obaid|S|S|', 'Reynaud|P|P|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006849:Hydrocephalus D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D061646:Operative Time D012189:Retrospective Studies D012306:Risk D013530:Surgical Wound Infection D014140:Tracheotomy D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
Surgical site infection Hemorrhage Hydrocephalus Tracheostomy VP-shunt