What are the results of a single-center, prospective, randomized, controlled trial conducted to determine which patients require ventricular shunt placement?
The trial randomized 41 patients to rapid weaning of EVD (wean period 24 hours) and 40 patients to gradual EVD weaning (wean period 96 hours). There was no difference in the rate of shunt placement (63.4% rapid versus 62.5% gradual), but the gradual wean group had 2.8 more days in the intensive care unit (P 0.0002) and 2.4 more days in the hospital (P 0.01).