Ommaya Reservoir (Intraventricular Reservoir)

Benefits of an Ommaya reservoir

An Ommaya reservoir helps your child’s care team:

• Take samples of your child’s spinal fluid: This is called a reservoir tap. A health care provider removes fluid with a needle. The fluid samples can show if cancer cells are present or if your child has an infection.
• Remove spinal fluid when there is too much: If your child has too much spinal fluid in their brain or swelling in the brain, it can help to remove some of the fluid.
• Give medicines to your child’s spinal fluid: Medicines given through the reservoir can include chemotherapy, antibiotics, and other treatments.

How to prepare for Ommaya reservoir placement

Follow all instructions given to you by your surgical care team to prepare your child for this procedure.

What to expect during Ommaya reservoir placement

Your child’s neurosurgeon places the reservoir during a surgical procedure. Your child will likely have general anesthesia. That means they will be asleep for the procedure. A member of the care team shaves the area where the surgical cuts will be made. They do not shave your child’s entire head.

During the procedure, your child’s neurosurgeon makes a small cut behind your child’s hairline. They insert the reservoir dome through the cut under the scalp. The neurosurgeon then passes the catheter through the brain into the space where spinal fluid is made. Then they stitch the cut closed.

This placement surgery usually takes about an hour.

After Ommaya reservoir placement

Your child’s doctor will talk with you after the surgery. Your child may have bandages over the procedure site. They may need to stay in the hospital for some time as they heal. The care team will ask your child to move their fingers, toes, arms, and legs. They will also check the pupils of your child’s eyes and ask your child questions.

Your child may have a headache, nausea, or vomiting after Ommaya reservoir placement. Please tell your care team if your child is in pain or has any of the above symptoms. They can give medicines to help.

Your child may have mild swelling around their procedure site. Call your care team if you see any redness, drainage or swelling that is not mild or if you have any concerns.

Call your surgical care team if you have any questions.

Possible risks of Ommaya reservoir placement

Your child’s neurosurgeon will talk with you about the risks of the procedure. There is a small risk of:

• Bleeding into the brain
• Infection in the brain
• The Ommaya reservoir being out of place. If the reservoir needs to be moved, a follow-up procedure may be needed.
• The Ommaya reservoir not working properly. Your child may have an MRI or CT scan after the operation to make sure that the reservoir works correctly.

When to call your care team 

Call your care team right away if your child has any signs or symptoms of infection.

Signs and symptoms of infection include:

• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
• Soreness, swelling, or redness around the reservoir
• Bad-smelling discharge from around the reservoir
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Neck stiffness
• Blurry vision
• Confusion

Questions to ask your care team

• How should my child prepare for their Ommaya reservoir placement?
• Does the reservoir have any side effects?
• Can the reservoir be removed?
• Should my child limit or avoid certain activities after Ommaya reservoir surgery?
• How do we care for the reservoir? Do we need to clean it?
• What happens during a reservoir tap?