Dry-field maneuver for controlling the massive intraventricular bleeding during neuroendoscopic procedures

Massive hemorrhages pose a significant problem in intraventricular endoscopic surgeries. These hemorrhages have the potential to cause mortality and morbidity, particularly in excisional surgeries. Often, the bleeding can be controlled only by cauterization and liquid irrigation, due to the incongruity of the use of antihemorrhagic agents in the fluid. The final option to stop the massive bleeding is the dry-field maneuver. In this study, the effects and clinical results of the dry-field maneuver in bleeding control of a massive bleeding were investigated. Dry-field maneuver was retrospectively studied in a patient population that had massive bleeding during intraventricular endoscopic procedures. Dry-field maneuver was used in seven patients. Four of these patients underwent some excisional surgery. The other two patients were operated for an endoscopic third ventriculostomy and one for intraventricular hemorrhage evacuation. It was observed that the hemorrhage in patients stopped rapidly after the dry-field maneuver. Moreover, there was no need for an antihemorrhagic material. Dry-field maneuver is an option for providing hemostasis, particularly, for a massive hemorrhage. It also has the potential to be used in elective surgeries because it improves the visual quality.