Semi-Antibiotic vs Full-Antibiotic Shunt Kits: Defit, Decurve, Depus

In DESU shunt kits, “semi-antibiotic” means a standard valve with antibiotic-impregnated catheters, and “full-antibiotic” means an impregnated valve body plus impregnated catheters. Defit and Decurve offer both, as well as valve-body-only impregnation. Fixed-pressure Depus kits use antibiotic-impregnated catheters in ventriculoperitoneal (VP) and lumboperitoneal (LP) configurations, and adjustable Depus valves also come with an impregnated valve body.

Knowing which components are impregnated in each configuration of the DESU shunt systems lets a surgeon’s preference be translated into the right kit on an order. The choice of configuration rests with the surgeon and the hospital’s protocol, following the instructions for use. For the catheter range as a whole, see the antibiotic-impregnated catheters page.

What do semi-antibiotic and full-antibiotic mean?

The terms describe how much of the shunt is antibiotic-impregnated. In every case, the antibiotic is impregnated into the material and released in a controlled manner over 28 days. Defit shows all four levels:

• Standard: neither the valve nor the catheters are impregnated.
• Valve-body-only impregnation: the impregnation is in the valve body.
• Semi-antibiotic: a standard valve with antibiotic-impregnated catheters.
• Full-antibiotic: an impregnated valve body and impregnated catheters.

Semi and full kits share the same impregnated catheters; the only difference between them is the valve body. Valve-body-only impregnation is the mirror case, with the antibiotic in the valve body rather than the catheters. Reading the configuration this way, component by component, avoids an easy ordering mistake: assuming that “antibiotic kit” describes a single product.

The impregnated catheters are orange and the standard catheters white, which makes a semi- or full-antibiotic kit easy to recognise on the sterile field. For background on the release period, see the 28-day release explained.

How do Defit, Decurve and Depus compare?

All three families use the same catheters: a 23 cm ventricular catheter with 1.3 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter, and a 120 cm peritoneal catheter with 1.1 mm inner and 2.5 mm outer diameter. All DESU shunt systems are single-use and sterilised by ethylene oxide.

How do the Defit options differ?

Defit is the family with the widest set of antibiotic options. Its VP kit contains a Defit valve, a 23 cm ventricular catheter, a 120 cm peritoneal catheter, a stylet and a right-angled connector, with an optional antisiphon device. Defit is also available as a valve on its own.

• Valve-body-only impregnation places the antibiotic in the flat-bottom silicone valve body.
• A semi-antibiotic Defit kit keeps the standard valve and uses impregnated ventricular and peritoneal catheters.
• A full-antibiotic Defit kit combines the impregnated valve body with impregnated catheters.

The flat-bottom silicone valve contains no metal and is suitable for MRI and CT.

How is Decurve offered?

Decurve is a round burr-hole valve with a reservoir, made of polypropylene and silicone elastomer, with no metal parts. Both valve sizes, paediatric and adult, come in low, medium and high fixed pressures, as standard, semi-antibiotic-impregnated, full-antibiotic-impregnated and antisiphon-device systems. Valves with an impregnated body are also available on their own (ADCP and ADCA codes). The kit contents match Defit: valve, 23 cm ventricular catheter, 120 cm peritoneal catheter, stylet and right-angled connector.

How does Depus handle the antibiotic option?

For fixed-pressure Depus valves, the antibiotic option is at catheter level. Adjustable Depus valves also come with an impregnated valve body, alone (ADP-A, ADPA-A) or in kits with standard or impregnated catheters. In addition to standard VP kits, configurations with antibiotic-impregnated ventricular and peritoneal catheters are available. An antisiphon device and a reservoir can be added according to clinical need.

Depus is also the family with a lumboperitoneal configuration. The LP kit includes the Depus valve, a lumbar catheter and a peritoneal catheter, together with a 14 G Tuohy needle and a 0.018” guidewire, and is available with standard or antibiotic-impregnated catheters. The Depus Adjustment Kit, used to locate, read and set adjustable valves, is a non-sterile reusable accessory and has no impregnated version.

What stays the same across all versions?

• Catheter inner and outer diameters, lengths and tantalum length marks, which are identical for standard and impregnated catheters.
• Kit accessories: stylet and right-angled connector in VP kits; Tuohy needle and guidewire in Depus LP kits.
• Single-use supply and ethylene oxide sterilisation.

The antibiotic option changes which components are impregnated, not how the kit is built. For a wider look at how teams evaluate DESU valves, see hydrocephalus shunt valve solutions.

How should a semi or full kit be specified on an order?

Each order line should state, in this order:

• Family: Defit, Decurve or Depus.
• Valve size and pressure, or adjustable for Depus.
• Valve alone or complete kit, and VP or LP for Depus.
• Antibiotic level: standard, valve-body-only, semi-antibiotic or full-antibiotic (Defit, Decurve, adjustable Depus), or impregnated catheters (fixed-pressure Depus).
• Antisiphon device: yes or no; kits with an antisiphon device have codes ending in “-ASD”.

On receipt, orange catheters show that an antibiotic configuration has arrived; the label confirms the exact configuration, including whether the valve body is impregnated.

Talk to a DESU product specialist

For reference codes and help matching semi- and full-antibiotic configurations to your shunt list, write to sales@desu.tr, use the contact page, or request a quote.