Paediatric Shunt Kits With Antibiotic-Impregnated Catheters
Paediatric shunt kits with antibiotic-impregnated catheters: which Decurve, Defit and Depus sizes offer them, with order codes and what to check when ordering.
DESU makes shunt kits with antibiotic-impregnated catheters in three valve families used in children. The 23 mm paediatric Decurve comes in semi-antibiotic and full-antibiotic kits. Defit comes in two sizes only: semi-antibiotic kits in Small and full-antibiotic kits in Regular, with no such kit for Ultra Small. Adjustable paediatric Depus kits are also offered with impregnated catheters.
Key takeaways
- The 23 mm paediatric Decurve comes in semi-antibiotic and full-antibiotic kits at all three pressures.
- Defit kits with impregnated catheters come in two sizes: semi-antibiotic in Small, full-antibiotic in Regular.
- Defit Ultra Small has no kit with impregnated catheters.
- Adjustable paediatric Depus kits are also available with impregnated catheters.
These kits sit in DESU’s antibiotic-impregnated catheters range. Whether a child receives an impregnated catheter, and which valve, is decided by the surgeon, with the hospital’s protocol and the instructions for use.
Which kits have antibiotic-impregnated catheters?
In the table, L, M and H stand for low, medium and high pressure. Adding “-ASD” to a kit code gives the version with an antisiphon device.
| Valve | Size | Standard valve, impregnated catheters | Impregnated valve body, impregnated catheters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paediatric Decurve | 23 mm nominal diameter | DCP-L-VACK, DCP-M-VACK, DCP-H-VACK | ADCP-L-VACK, ADCP-M-VACK, ADCP-H-VACK |
| Defit Ultra Small | 35 mm overall, 4.5 mm thick | — | — |
| Defit Small | 40 mm overall, 5.5 mm thick | DFS-L-VACK, DFS-M-VACK, DFS-H-VACK | — |
| Defit Regular | 45 mm overall, 7 mm thick | — | ADFR-L-VACK, ADFR-M-VACK, ADFR-H-VACK |
| Adjustable paediatric Depus | Paediatric size | DP-A-VACK | ADP-A-VACK |
Decurve and adjustable Depus come in named paediatric sizes. Defit sizes are defined by their dimensions, not by age, so the Defit rows are there for comparison and do not mean a size suits a given age. For the size question itself, see shunt valve sizes for paediatric hydrocephalus.
What does antibiotic-impregnated mean in these kits?
The antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days. Impregnated catheters are orange and standard catheters white.
The catheters themselves are the same whatever the valve size. Every kit in the table uses a 23 cm ventricular catheter (1.3 mm inner, 2.5 mm outer diameter) and a 120 cm peritoneal catheter (1.1 mm inner, 2.5 mm outer diameter), with a stylet and a right-angled connector. There is no separate paediatric catheter, and the impregnated catheters have the same dimensions as the standard ones.
How does the paediatric Decurve line up?
The paediatric Decurve is the most complete option in this group. It is a round burr-hole valve with a reservoir, made of polypropylene and silicone elastomer, with no metal parts. Each pressure comes in four kit types:
- Standard valve and standard catheters, such as DCP-M-VCK.
- Standard valve and impregnated catheters (semi-antibiotic), such as DCP-M-VACK.
- Impregnated valve body and impregnated catheters (full-antibiotic), such as ADCP-M-VACK.
- Any of the above with an antisiphon device, ending in “-ASD”.
Which Defit sizes have impregnated catheter kits?
Defit needs the most care, because its antibiotic configurations differ by size. A flat-bottom silicone valve with no metal parts, it comes in three sizes, but not every antibiotic level is offered in each:
- Small: semi-antibiotic VP kits, with or without an antisiphon device.
- Regular: full-antibiotic VP kits, with or without an antisiphon device.
- Ultra Small: standard VP kits, plus valves with an impregnated body supplied alone (codes starting ADFUS).
So a team planning around the lowest-profile Defit should not assume an impregnated-catheter kit exists in that size. The ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit also comes in an antibiotic-impregnated version (ASVPCK), but it is not a set pairing for a particular valve, so talk to our product specialists before planning around that combination. The same goes for a full-antibiotic kit in Small or a semi-antibiotic kit in Regular, neither of which is offered as a kit.
Is there an adjustable paediatric option?
Yes. The adjustable paediatric Depus has a polysulfone valve and is offered with standard or antibiotic-impregnated catheters. DP-A-VACK pairs the standard valve body with impregnated catheters, and ADP-A-VACK pairs an impregnated valve body with them. Kits include a silicone reservoir, with paediatric flat-bottom and burr-hole alternatives, and the valve is set with the Depus Adjustment Kit.
The fixed-pressure Depus has a valve size suitable for paediatric and adult patients. Its kits with impregnated catheters use the DP-L-VACK, DP-M-VACK and DP-H-VACK codes.
What should an order line state?
- Family and valve size.
- Pressure, or adjustable.
- Antibiotic level: semi-antibiotic or full-antibiotic.
- Whether an antisiphon device is required.
Reading the codes helps. VCK marks a standard VP catheter kit and VACK an antibiotic-impregnated one, while a leading A marks an impregnated valve body. So ADCP-M-VACK-ASD is a medium-pressure paediatric Decurve with an impregnated body, impregnated catheters and an antisiphon device. On receipt, orange catheters confirm that impregnated catheters have arrived; only the label confirms whether the valve body is impregnated too. The two levels are compared in semi-antibiotic vs full-antibiotic shunt kits.
What should a paediatric unit plan to stock?
The options multiply quickly. The paediatric Decurve alone has 12 kit codes with impregnated catheters: two antibiotic levels, three pressures, each with and without an antisiphon device. Six standard kit codes sit alongside them. Defit Small and Defit Regular add six each.
Few units need all of them. A shorter list usually starts from the pressures the surgeons use most, whether an antisiphon device is routine and which antibiotic level the hospital’s protocol names.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
For the current code list and help matching paediatric configurations to your theatre stock, our product specialists can assist. Write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How are these valve sizes matched to age or weight?
Decurve and adjustable Depus sizes are named paediatric and adult, while Defit sizes are defined by dimensions. Patient selection follows the surgeon’s judgement and the instructions for use.
Is the valve impregnated in a semi-antibiotic kit?
No. A semi-antibiotic kit combines a standard valve with antibiotic-impregnated catheters. A full-antibiotic kit has an impregnated valve body as well.
Can a paediatric valve be ordered without a kit?
Yes. The valves are coded individually as well as in kits. For example, DCP-M is a medium-pressure paediatric Decurve valve and ADCP-M the same valve with an antibiotic-impregnated body.
Is an antisiphon device available on these kits?
Yes. Each kit in the table has a version with an antisiphon device, shown by the “-ASD” suffix on the code. Whether a patient needs one is the surgeon’s decision.
Related standards
- ISO 7197: Neurosurgical implants — Sterile, single-use hydrocephalus shunts and components
- ISO 11135: Sterilization of health-care products — Ethylene oxide