How I do it: continuous intraventricular interferon alpha infusion in pediatric patients with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

BACKGROUND

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS) because of persistent measles virus (MeV) infection. Among the various treatment available the intraventricular interferon alpha administration demonstrated greater effectiveness.

METHOD: In this article is described the step-by-step surgical technique of the positioning of an intraventricular catheter connected to a rechargeable subcutaneous pump. The main surgical steps and the pump settings are illustrated in a supplementary video.

CONCLUSION

This surgical management guarantees a continuous drug release improving the therapeutic effect in terms of clinical and neuroradiological outcome and reducing the toxicity profile.