Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters in EVD Sets: How to Order Them

In a DESU EVD set order, the antibiotic-impregnated option is a catheter choice. The EVD-010 Series is ordered with a standard or an antibiotic-impregnated 31 cm ventricular catheter; the EVD-020 Series with a standard or impregnated ventricular or lumbar catheter. For external lumbar drainage, the lumbar drainage catheter kit is available in both versions. The drainage system itself does not change.

A decision to use antibiotic-impregnated catheters has to become clear order and tender lines for DESU EVD sets. Which patients receive which catheter is decided by the surgeon and the hospital’s protocol, following the instructions for use. How a hospital sets its stocking split is covered in standard vs antibiotic-impregnated EVD catheters: choosing the mix.

What stays the same in every EVD set order?

Both DESU external drainage systems are built on the same drainage components. Whichever catheter version is ordered, the system includes:

• A 60 cm reinforced connection line with a locking mechanism.
• A 30 cm measuring scale with readings in mmHg and cmH₂O.
• A 150 ml drip chamber.
• An 800 ml drainage bag with an air filter.
• Two three-way connectors and a hydrophobic filter.

In the antibiotic-impregnated version, the antibiotic is impregnated into the catheter material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days. The catheter is orange; the standard catheter is white. Nothing else in the order line changes.

How is the catheter option specified for the EVD-010?

The EVD-010 Series is a ventricular drainage system with its catheter defined: 31 cm long, 1.5 mm inner diameter and 3.0 mm outer diameter. It has one set of catheter dimensions and two catheter options, standard and antibiotic-impregnated. That makes the specification a single decision, and in practice two order lines: EVD-010 with standard catheter, and EVD-010 with antibiotic-impregnated catheter.

How is the EVD-020 specified?

The EVD-020 Series is used with either a ventricular or a lumbar catheter, and has an antibiotic-impregnated catheter option. Its specification therefore needs two decisions: the route first, then the catheter version. The table brings the external drainage options together:

A hospital that uses the EVD-020 for both routes and stocks both catheter versions is managing four configurations on one drainage system. Writing all four out on the order form, rather than leaving the route or version to a free-text note, keeps the request unambiguous. The two-route approach itself is described in EVD-020 with a lumbar catheter.

Where does the lumbar drainage catheter kit fit?

The lumbar drainage catheter kit is designed to carry cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbar region to an external drainage system. It combines an 80 cm silicone catheter of 0.8 mm inner and 1.6 mm outer diameter, with tantalum length marks from 5 to 20 cm and 24 drainage holes in four rows of six, with a Tuohy needle, guidewire, angled trocar, Luer Lock connector, distal cap and fixation part.

The standard and impregnated versions have the same dimensions, marks and drainage holes. When a lumbar configuration is planned, our product specialists can confirm how the lumbar catheter is supplied for your EVD-020 order, so the kit is neither missing nor ordered twice.

Take care not to confuse it with the lumbar catheter kit. That kit carries a 100 cm lumbar shunt catheter with a 14 G Tuohy needle, guidewire and fixation tab. The diameters are the same, but the length and purpose are not, and both kits come in standard and impregnated versions.

How should the order or tender line be written?

A complete external drainage line names four things:

• System: EVD-010 or EVD-020.
• Route: ventricular, or lumbar for the EVD-020.
• Catheter version: standard or antibiotic-impregnated, written out rather than abbreviated.
• Lumbar catheter: whether the lumbar drainage catheter kit is required, and in which version.

For tenders, list each configuration as its own line with its own quantity. A single line such as “EVD set, catheter as required” leaves the supplier to guess, and a wrong guess may only be noticed when the set is opened.

An example structure

A neurosurgery department that drains through both routes and stocks both catheter versions might structure its external drainage lines like this, with quantities taken from its own protocol and usage:

• EVD-010 Series with standard ventricular catheter.
• EVD-010 Series with antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter.
• EVD-020 Series, lumbar route, with standard catheter.
• EVD-020 Series, lumbar route, with antibiotic-impregnated catheter.
• Lumbar drainage catheter kit, standard and antibiotic-impregnated, if the lumbar catheter is ordered separately.

A department that uses only one system or one catheter version simply drops the lines it does not need. Reference codes for each line are available from our product specialists.

What should be checked when the order arrives?

• The catheter colour matches the label: orange for antibiotic-impregnated, white for standard.
• The system and route on the label match the order line.
• Standard and impregnated sets are stored apart and clearly marked, so the right one is picked quickly.
• Lumbar drainage catheter kits are stored next to the EVD-020 sets they will be used with, in the matching version.

Talk to a DESU product specialist

For reference codes and help structuring an EVD order with standard and antibiotic-impregnated catheters, write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.