Table 1. Characteristics of patients in included studies.
*excluding missing data for one patient with unknown initial GCS
TBI = traumatic brain injury, SAH = subarachnoid haemorrhage, ICH = intracerebral haemorrhage, EH = external hydrocephalus, GCS = Glasgow coma scale, EVD = external ventricular drain, ICP = intracranial pressure, CT = computed tomography
| Authors | Cohort | n = | TBI n | Other n | Mean initial GCS | Mean age | Gender F:M | Inclusion criteria | Exclusion criteria |
| Abadal Centellas et al, 2007 [29] | Adults, TBI | 17 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 32.5 ± 13.3 | 4:13 | Refractory ICP after first and second level measures | CT criteria |
| Bauer et al, 2017 [31] | Adults, TBI | 8 | 8 | 0 | 10.1* | 54.1 (27 -70) | 2:6 | Refractory ICP with either small ventricles or high ICP disproportionate to CT | CT criteria |
| Levy et al, 1995 [32] | Children, TBI | 16 | 16 | 0 | 6.2 | Not stated | 5:11 | Considered if sustained ICP >25 on aggressive medical therapy | Nil stated |
| Llompart Pou et al, 2011 [33] | Adults, TBI | 30 | 30 | 0 | 9 | 34.9±12.5 | 5:25 | Refractory ICP after first and second level measures | CT criteria |
| Manet et al, 2016 [34] | Adults, TBI (EH) | 4 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 53.5±7 | 2:2 | Failure of maximal medical management and not suitable for or failed EVD, with increasing volume of CSF in SAS, paradoxical to ICHT | CT criteria, no mass lesion or CT factors indicating craniotomy or decompressive craniectomy |
| Manet et al, 2017 [35] | Adults, TBI/SAH/ICH (EH) | 33 | 22 | 11 (SAH n=10, ICH n=1) | 7.9 | 51 (median) (34-61) | Not available | External hydrocephalus from acute brain injury, refractory ICP with radiological evidence of external hydrocephalus | CT criteria |
| Murad et al, 2012 [25] | Adults, TBI/SAH | 15 | 10 | 5 (SAH) | 6.8 | 36.9 (19-60) | 3:12 | Aged 18-99 with ventriculostomy catheter, ICP >20mmHg no longer responsive to medical criteria | Unevacuated focal mass lesion, patients transferred with lumbar drains |
| Tuettenberg et al, 2009 [23] | Adults, TBI/SAH | 100 | 45 | 55 (SAH) | 7±4 (TBI 6.4±3) | 43.7 (TBI 37.6±18.1) | Not available | Ongoing ICP >20, EVD in situ, CT parameters and acceptable clotting | Nil stated |
| Willemse, 1998 [37] | Adults | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 26 (21-35) | 3:4 | Lumbar drainage was only instituted in the absence of focal mass lesions and with discernible basilar cisterns on computerised tomography (CT) scan | Nil stated |
| Total | 230 | 159 | 71 |