Antibiotic-Impregnated Ventricular Catheters: Shunt vs EVD
Antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheters in shunt kits and EVD sets: the 23 cm and 31 cm DESU catheters compared by size, accessories and order codes.
DESU makes antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheters in two forms: a 23 cm, 1.3 / 2.5 mm catheter for implanted shunt systems and a 31 cm, 1.5 / 3.0 mm catheter for EVD sets. In both, the antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days, and both are orange.
Key takeaways
- DESU has two different antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheters, one for shunts and one for external drainage.
- The shunt catheter is 23 cm, 1.3 / 2.5 mm; the EVD catheter is 31 cm, 1.5 / 3.0 mm.
- Both have the antibiotic impregnated into the material, released in a controlled manner over 28 days, and both are orange.
- Each is ordered with its system or as a separately coded catheter, so the code matters.
The two share a name and a release profile, which makes them easy to treat as one product on a list. In our range of antibiotic-impregnated catheters they are separate products, with their own sizes, accessories and codes. Which patient receives which catheter is a clinical decision for the surgeon and the hospital’s protocol.
What do the two catheters have in common?
- Impregnation: the antibiotic is impregnated into the material, not added as a surface layer.
- Release: controlled over 28 days, across the whole impregnated range.
- Colour: impregnated catheters are orange, standard catheters are white.
- Same size as the standard version: the impregnated ventricular catheter has the same dimensions as its standard counterpart, as does the 31 cm EVD catheter.
How do the shunt and EVD catheters differ?
The difference starts with the job. A shunt ventricular catheter is part of an implanted system and connects to a valve. An EVD catheter takes CSF to a drainage system outside the body. Their dimensions and accompanying accessories follow from that.
| Feature | Shunt ventricular catheter | EVD ventricular catheter |
|---|---|---|
| System | Implanted shunt | External drainage set |
| Inner diameter | 1.3 mm | 1.5 mm |
| Outer diameter | 2.5 mm | 3.0 mm |
| Length | 23 cm | 31 cm |
| Design details | Silicone; tantalum marks 5–15 cm; 24 holes in four rows of six | — |
| Supplied with | Stylet and right-angled connector | Stylet, fixation tab, Luer Lock connector and distal cap, angled trocar |
| Stand-alone code | ASVCK (kit) | EVDACK-1530310 |
How is the impregnated catheter supplied in shunt kits?
Shunt kits offer impregnation at more than one point, so the kit name needs reading carefully. Only some versions contain an impregnated ventricular catheter:
- Valve body only: the catheters are not part of the impregnation.
- Semi-antibiotic: a standard valve with antibiotic-impregnated catheters.
- Full-antibiotic: an impregnated valve body and impregnated catheters.
In semi-antibiotic and full-antibiotic kits, the ventricular catheter travels with an impregnated peritoneal catheter. On Decurve, DCP-L-VACK is a low-pressure paediatric semi-antibiotic kit and ADCP-L-VACK its full-antibiotic equivalent. On Depus, DP-L-VACK pairs a fixed-pressure valve with the impregnated VP catheter kit, and adjustable valves follow the same pattern with DP-A-VACK and ADP-A-VACK. The kit logic is covered in Semi-Antibiotic vs Full-Antibiotic Shunt Kits.
Outside shunt kits, ASVCK is the antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter kit, with stylet and right-angled connector, and ASVPCK adds the impregnated peritoneal catheter.
How is it supplied in EVD sets?
In EVD sets the impregnated catheter is an option on the drainage system. The drainage components stay the same; the catheter changes.
- ENDS-AC-010: EVD-010 Series with an antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter.
- ENDS-AC-020: EVD-020 Series with an antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter.
External drainage catheters are also coded independently of the system, and here the impregnated range is wider than the 31 cm size:
| Order code | Inner / outer diameter | Length |
|---|---|---|
| EVDACK-1530310 | 1.5 / 3.0 mm | 31 cm |
| EVDACK-1530350 | 1.5 / 3.0 mm | 35 cm |
| EVDACKS-1934350 | 1.9 / 3.4 mm | 35 cm |
| EVDCACK-1934350 | 1.9 / 3.4 mm | 35 cm |
The two 1.9 / 3.4 mm codes share the same description, so tell us your need and our product specialists will confirm which applies. The standard catheter, EVDCK-1530310, comes in 1.5 / 3.0 mm and 31 cm only.
What does the 28-day release mean in each setting?
The 28 days describe how the antibiotic is released. They say nothing about how long a catheter may stay in place, and they are not an outcome claim. The same figure applies in two different situations. An external drain is temporary, so a team may weigh the release period against the expected drainage time. A shunt catheter is implanted and remains in the body after the release period has ended.
The catheter does not replace sterile technique or any other part of a hospital’s infection prevention measures. For how committees weigh the figure, see The 28-Day Release Explained.
Can one catheter stand in for the other?
Each catheter is made for its own system, so that is the use to specify. The different diameters and accessories are a reason to treat them as separate line items, and any use outside that configuration is a matter for the instructions for use.
How can buyers tell them apart?
- Check the code first: ASVCK and VACK kits are shunt items; ENDS-AC and EVDACK items are external drainage.
- Colour shows impregnation, not the system. Both catheters are orange, so colour alone cannot separate them.
- Write the length and diameters on tender lines, since “antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheter” could describe either.
- Store shunt and EVD stock apart, with standard and impregnated versions clearly marked.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
For reference codes or help matching antibiotic-impregnated ventricular catheters to your shunt and EVD lines, write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Does an antibiotic-impregnated shunt kit always have an impregnated valve?
No. In a semi-antibiotic kit the valve is standard and the catheters are impregnated. Only the full-antibiotic kit combines an impregnated valve body with impregnated catheters.
Where are the active agents and contraindications covered?
Questions about the active agents, contraindications or sensitivities should go to the instructions for use and to our product specialists.
Is there an impregnated lumbar option as well?
Yes. Lumbar, lumboperitoneal and lumbar drainage catheters also come in antibiotic-impregnated versions, and EVD-020 can be ordered with an impregnated lumbar catheter. They are separate products from the ventricular catheters discussed here.
Related standards
- ISO 7197: Neurosurgical implants — Sterile, single-use hydrocephalus shunts and components
- ISO 10993 series: Biological evaluation of medical devices
- ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems