Ventriculoperitoneal Catheter Kit vs Separate Catheters

Compare the DESU ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit with ordering the catheters separately: order codes, contents, specifications and stock planning.

The DESU ventriculoperitoneal catheter kit puts a 23 cm ventricular catheter, a 120 cm peritoneal catheter, a stylet and a right-angled connector under one order code. Ordering the ventricular and peritoneal kits separately gives the same items under two codes. The kit suits a full catheter set; separate codes suit single-catheter or mixed needs.

Key takeaways

• SVPCK puts both catheters, a stylet and a right-angled connector under one order code.
• SVCK plus SPCK gives the same catheters and accessories under two codes.
• VP catheter kits are either all standard or all antibiotic-impregnated; a mix needs separate codes.
• Neither route includes a valve: a valve with its catheters is a shunt kit.

This is a purchasing question more than a clinical one, and it comes up whenever a hospital sets up its range of neurosurgical catheters. Which catheters a patient needs remains the surgeon’s decision.

What does each order code contain?

Six codes matter here: three standard and three antibiotic-impregnated.

One ventricular catheter kit plus one peritoneal catheter kit adds up to one VP catheter kit: two catheters, one stylet and one right-angled connector. The stylet and connector belong with the ventricular side, so ordering the peritoneal catheter alone does not bring them.

Are the catheters the same in both routes?

Yes. The dimensions and features are the same in the separate products and in the VP catheter kit.

So the decision comes down to how the same items are grouped on an order, on a shelf and on a preference card.

When does the single kit make more sense?

The VP catheter kit is the tidier choice when both catheters are expected to be used together.

• One line on the purchase order and one item to receive, store and pick.
• One code on a surgeon preference card, which leaves less room for a missing part on the day.
• The stylet and right-angled connector arrive with the catheters, with nothing else to add.
• Fewer shelf locations where storage space is tight.

When do separate codes make more sense?

Separate codes earn their place when the two catheters are not always needed in equal numbers.

• Only one catheter is needed, for example where the surgeon plans to replace one part of a system.
• Usage differs, so stock can follow the real demand for each catheter.
• A mixed configuration is wanted. Both VP catheter kits are all-standard or all-impregnated, so a mix has no single code.

A mix would be built from separate codes, such as SVCK with ASPCK, or ASVCK with SPCK. Whether a mix is appropriate is a clinical decision. For the main options, see antibiotic-impregnated catheters, where the antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days.

How does the choice affect stock and purchasing?

• Item count: stocking all six codes covers every route. Many departments will need fewer, and a review of past cases shows which.
• Par levels: a VP kit is one number to watch. Separate codes need one number each, and a shortage of either can hold up a case that needs both.
• Substitution: if VP kits run out, a ventricular kit and a peritoneal catheter together give the same contents, provided both are on the shelf.
• Identification: standard catheters are white and impregnated catheters are orange, and impregnated codes begin with A.
• Pricing: request both routes on one quote and compare them for your own volumes.

A simple approach is to hold the VP catheter kit as the default, then add a small number of separate codes for the cases that need them. That is a starting point, not a rule. It depends on how the department works.

How should the choice be written down?

Whichever route a hospital picks, the benefit comes from recording it clearly, so that the person picking the case is not left to work it out.

• On a preference card, name the exact code and whether the catheters are standard or antibiotic-impregnated.
• In a tender, describe the items by specification as well as by code: catheter dimensions, silicone, tantalum length marks and accessories.
• If a tender is written for the VP kit, state whether separate catheters are acceptable as an equivalent, so that offers can be compared fairly.
• In the stock system, link SVPCK with SVCK and SPCK, and ASVPCK with ASVCK and ASPCK, so that staff can see which items cover the same need.

Does either route include a valve?

No. All six codes are catheter products. A valve with its catheters is a shunt kit, in which the code shows the catheter kit: fixed-pressure Depus codes such as DP-M-VCK include a VP catheter kit, and DP-M-VACK an antibiotic-impregnated one. A team ordering those has no need for a separate VP catheter kit for the same case.

For what a complete shunt kit holds, see the VP shunt kit component checklist.

Talk to a DESU product specialist

To compare both routes for your hospital, or to confirm codes before a tender, DESU product specialists can help. Write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

Does the peritoneal catheter come with a stylet?

No. The peritoneal catheter kit contains the 120 cm peritoneal catheter. The stylet supports the ventricular catheter, so it comes with the ventricular and VP catheter kits.

Can a VP catheter kit be ordered with one standard and one impregnated catheter?

There is no single code for that. SVPCK is all standard and ASVPCK is all impregnated. A mixed pair is ordered through the separate codes, if the surgeon wants that configuration.

Do these catheters match the ones in DESU shunt kits?

The dimensions are the same as those of the ventricular and peritoneal catheters in Depus, Defit and Decurve VP kits. For compatibility with a specific valve or configuration, check the instructions for use or ask our product specialists.

Which route should a hospital choose first?

Start from past cases. If both catheters are nearly always used together, the single kit is simpler. If single-catheter cases are common, separate codes earn their shelf space, and some departments will want both.

Related standards

• ISO 13485: Medical devices — Quality management systems
• ISO 10993 series: Biological evaluation of medical devices