A 15-year-old male adolescent is admitted to the emergency room with a head trauma. He now presents with an external ventriculostomy to monitor intracranial pressure. When working on bed mobility, what should the position of the drain be in relationship to the patient?

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The ventriculostomy set-up consists of a tube inserted by a neurosurgeon running from a ventricle to an external collection device. The external collection device is hung at a specific height in relation to the child's head to allow gravity to facilitate the desired output. For example, a collection device hung below the level of a child's head would allow gravity to assist with drainage of fluid from the head to the device, whereas a collection device hung above the head would require increased pressure within the ventricular system to overcome gravity and allow fluid to drain out of the brain into the collection device. Implications for physical therapists working with children who have ventriculostomies include close monitoring of the child's position in relation to the collection device as well as signs and symptoms of increased and decreased intracranial pressure.

A 15-Year-Old Male Adolescent Is Admitted to the Emergency Room