Ventricular Catheter Drainage Holes: 24 Holes in Four Rows
The DESU ventricular catheter has 24 drainage holes in four rows of six. See how the pattern is laid out, where it recurs and how a buyer can specify it.
The DESU ventricular catheter has 24 drainage holes at its proximal end, arranged in four rows of six, and they collect cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the catheter. The standard and antibiotic-impregnated versions both have the 24 holes, and the same pattern appears on the DESU lumbar and lumbar drainage catheters.
Key takeaways
- The DESU ventricular catheter has 24 drainage holes at its proximal end, arranged as four rows of six.
- The holes collect CSF into the catheter; the pattern is a description of the design, not a measure of performance.
- The same 24-hole pattern appears on the DESU lumbar and lumbar drainage catheters.
- Hole size and spacing should not be worked out from the count or assumed from another product.
The catheter belongs to the DESU range of neurosurgical catheters and is supplied in the ventricular catheter kit. For the catheter’s full dimensions, marks and kit contents, see ventricular catheter design explained.
Where are the drainage holes and what do they do?
- Total: 24 drainage holes.
- Pattern: 4 rows × 6 holes.
- Location: the proximal end of the catheter.
- Function: the holes collect CSF into the catheter.
- Versions: the standard and the antibiotic-impregnated catheter both have the 24 holes.
Why do ventricular catheters have several holes rather than one?
A ventricular catheter is the inflow end of a shunt or drainage system. Ventricular catheters take in fluid through a group of perforations near the tip, rather than through one opening. Several openings spread along a section of the tube mean that entry to the lumen is not confined to a single point.
Catheter obstruction is a recognised problem in shunt surgery, which is why tip design has attracted long-standing interest among surgeons and engineers. Whether any given hole pattern changes that is a question for clinical research.
How should “four rows of six” be read?
The notation describes a count and an arrangement: four rows, each with six holes, giving 24 in total. A pattern written this way is useful in a specification because it can be checked against the product and compared line by line.
Hole size and spacing should not be worked out from the count or assumed from another product. Any figures you need for a tender are available from our product specialists.
How does the pattern compare across DESU catheters?
The 24-hole pattern is not unique to the ventricular catheter. The table compares the DESU catheters.
| Catheter | Length | Inner / outer diameter | Drainage holes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventricular | 23 cm | 1.3 mm / 2.5 mm | 24, four rows of six |
| Lumbar | 100 cm | 0.8 mm / 1.6 mm | 24, four rows of six |
| Lumbar drainage | 80 cm | 0.8 mm / 1.6 mm | 24, four rows of six |
| Peritoneal | 120 cm | 1.1 mm / 2.5 mm | Along four rows |
The lumbar catheter kit and the lumbar drainage catheter kit carry the same count and arrangement as the ventricular catheter, on a much narrower tube. The 31 cm EVD-010 catheter, at 1.5 mm inner and 3.0 mm outer diameter, is a different product, so the 23 cm catheter’s hole pattern should not be assumed to apply to it.
Where does the catheter with this pattern appear?
The ventricular catheter with this pattern comes in two catheter kits, and the same catheter dimensions recur in the shunt kits.
- Ventricular catheter kit: the catheter, a stylet and a right-angled connector.
- Ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit: the ventricular and a 120 cm peritoneal catheter, with a stylet and a right-angled connector.
- Defit, Decurve and Depus VP shunt kits: these use a 23 cm ventricular catheter with 1.3 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter.
Why does the drainage zone matter to the surgical team?
The drainage zone is the working end of the catheter, so its position is a central concern at placement. The aim with a ventricular catheter is for the perforated section to lie within the ventricle.
The DESU catheter is radiopaque silicone, so its position can be followed under imaging, and tantalum length marks at every centimetre from the 5th to the 15th support placement and length tracking during implantation. Trajectory and depth are decided by the surgeon, and the IFU is the reference for how the catheter is handled.
Does the antibiotic-impregnated catheter have the same holes?
Yes. Both versions have 24 drainage holes, along with the same diameters, length and tantalum length marks. In antibiotic-impregnated catheters, the antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days. Impregnated catheters are orange and standard ones are white.
How should a buyer write this into a specification?
Keep the line factual and tied to what can be verified:
- Silicone ventricular catheter, 23 cm, 1.3 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter.
- 24 drainage holes at the proximal end, in four rows of six.
- Tantalum length marks at every centimetre from 5–15 cm.
- Any hole diameter or drainage zone length required, confirmed in writing by the manufacturer.
A hole count is a description, not a measure of quality. Treat it as one line among several, and leave the choice of catheter to the surgeons who will place it.
Talk to a DESU product specialist
For technical questions on the ventricular catheter, contact our product specialists at sales@desu.tr, through the contact page, or request a quote.
Frequently asked questions
Is 24 holes better than fewer holes?
We make no claim that one hole count performs better than another, and the choice of catheter is the surgeon’s.
Do the shunt kits use the same 24-hole catheter?
Defit, Decurve and Depus VP kits use the same 23 cm length and 1.3 mm by 2.5 mm diameters. If a specification depends on the hole pattern for a shunt kit code, our product specialists can confirm it for your order.
Related standards
- ISO 7197: Neurosurgical implants — Sterile, single-use hydrocephalus shunts and components
- ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems