Ommaya reservoir facts for kids
The Ommaya reservoir is an invention by Dr Ayub K. Ommaya, a famous neurosurgeon. During surgery a catheter - a thin tube - is placed into one of the ventricles of the brain. The catheter is attached to a reservoir right under the scalp.
The Ommaya reservoir can be used for a few different things:
- To deliver chemotherapy directly to where a brain tumor is
- To take samples of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord. This can cut down on the number of painful spinal taps (lumbar punctures) the patient needs to have.
- To give painkillers directly into the brains of patients who are dying of cancer and are in terrible pain
See also
In Spanish: Depósito de Ommaya para niños
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Ommaya reservoir Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.