ventriculostomy

Establishment of an opening in a ventricle, usually through the floor of the third ventricle to the subarachnoid space to relieve hydrocephalus. SEE ALSO: shunt (2). [ventriculo- + G. stoma, mouth]

- third v. an operation to establish an opening from the third ventricle to the prechiasmal and interpeduncular cisterns (Stookey-Scarff operation) or from the third ventricle to the interpeduncular cistern (Dandy operation).

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ven·tric·u·los·to·my ven-.trik-yə-'läs-tə-mē n, pl -mies the surgical establishment of an opening in a ventricle of the brain to drain cerebrospinal fluid esp. in hydrocephalus

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n.

an operation to introduce a hollow needle (cannula) into one of the lateral ventricles (cavities) of the brain. This may be done to relieve raised intracranial pressure, to obtain cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricle for examination, or to introduce antibiotics or contrast material for X-ray examination.

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ven·tric·u·los·to·my (ven-trik″u-losґtə-me) [ventriculo- + -stomy] the operation of establishing a free communication or shunt between the floor of the third ventricle and the underlying cisterna interpeduncularis; for the treatment of hydrocephalus.