What You Need to Know About Frontal Ommaya Reservoir

Is someone in your family about to undergo a frontal onmaya reservoir procedure but you are not familiar with this brain surgery procedure? You must be asking yourself, just what it onmaya reservoir? How is it done and how does it help you? Well, on that note this article strives to give you more details on what is onmaya reservoir and what benefits it has for you. 

What is Onmaya Reservoir?

What is called an Onmaya reservoir is an intraventicular catheter system. The Onmaya reservoir is a device that is about a quarter-sized and is made of soft, plastic material in the shape of dome. The device is placed in the scalp for aspiration of cerebrospinal fluid or for the delivery of drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid such as what’s done in chemotherapy.

The Onmaya reservoir consists of a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) connected to the reservoir which is then placed into the brain in one of the ventricles. The device is used for treatment of diseases such as brain tumors, lymphoma or leukemia and/or leptomeningeal disease. Using Onmaya reservoir, the neurosurgeon or the nurse practitioner will be able to get samples of your cerebrowspinal fluid (CSF).

Also, it allows them to give you medication such antibiotics, chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies directly your cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebrospinal fluid is the fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord. The fluid is made in the ventricles and is one way that the brain doctor or nurse can check if there are cancers cells in the spinal fluid or infections lining your brain. The procedures using Onmaya reservoir is called “Onmaya reservoir tap”.

How is Onmaya Reservoir Surgery Done?

The frontal Onmaya reservoir surgery is done in the operating room with the patient asleep. When the patient is finally asleep, the hair along the incision line will be shaved. The neurosurgeon will then make a surgical cut, a C-shaped incision behind the hairline. Once the cut is done, the Onmaya reservoir will then be inserted under the scalp.

The catheter will be passed through the brain and into the space to which cerebrospinal fluids are formed. Afterwards, the incision will be closed with stitches. The whole surgery takes about an hour. This is pretty much how the frontal Onmaya reservoir procedure is done. While it seems relatively simple, there are a number of possible complications that could happen. 

Complications that Could Happen During Frontal Onmaya Reservoir Surgery

The Onmaya reservoir surgery can possible cause some complications that might put the patient at risk. For instance, there is a small risk that your brain might bleed. In addition, it is possible that you could have loss of function which your brain doctor will have to talk to you about and a small risk that your brain could get an infection.

On the latter, you will be given antibiotics after the surgery to reduce the risk of infection. There is also the possibility that your Onmaya reservoir might not work or that it needs to be adjusted. If it is not in the right place, you are likely to have another surgery in order to fix it. As for these risks, your neurosurgeon will surely discuss the possible risks and complications with you before the