My Experience with an Ommaya Reservoir

What is an Ommaya Reservoir?

An Ommaya reservoir is a round, plastic device that is surgically placed under the scalp. It looks like a bubble under the skin and has a catheter that leads through the brain into the spinal fluid. 

This allows a doctor to access the spinal fluid through the Ommaya reservoir, instead of through a lumbar puncture, or spinal tap. The doctor pokes a needle through the skin, into the reservoir, and can both take fluid and give medication through this way.

Why I chose an Ommaya Reservoir

Not everyone who goes through chemotherapy will require an Ommaya reservoir. Honestly, I’ve never met another person with one! My doctor said he had a few patients with them though, so I know I’m not the only one.

My cancer was determined to be stage 3, because I had tumors above and below my diaphragm, but the tests showed that it wasn’t yet in my brain or spinal fluid. This is what made it stage 3 instead of stage 4. 

Dr. Kingsley, my oncologist, explained that even though the tests didn’t show any cancer in my spine or brain, it was still possible for cancer cells to be lying dormant in those areas. If they weren’t treated, it would be possible for cancer to show up years later in my brain. We do not want that!

Chemotherapy typically flows through your bloodstream, which doesn’t lead to the spinal fluid. Because of this, the way to treat it is to inject the chemotherapy directly into the spinal fluid. Dr. Kingsley gave me two options- I could receive a weekly spinal tap (lumbar puncture) where they would test my spinal fluid and also inject the chemotherapy, or I could have an Ommaya reservoir surgically placed under my scalp, which would lead to my spinal fluid and it could be done through the reservoir.

Ultimately, I chose the Ommaya reservoir because a weekly spinal tap sounded awful and there is less risk of infection going through the reservoir. After I made my decision, Dr. Kingsley said that was actually his preferred method as well, so it seemed to work out well.

The Surgery

The surgery happened the day after it was scheduled because of how soon we were starting my treatment. Because it happened so fast, I didn’t really have time to be nervous about it! I was just excited that my treatment would be starting soon. I look back at that time and think to myself, “Did I realize I was having brain surgery?!” It was technically a minor brain surgery and I had a great surgeon so I had no reason to be nervous, but I know I certainly would have had my wait time been longer.

When I woke up from surgery, a portion of my hair was shaved and I had a very bad headache. I stayed in the ICU overnight and had the sweetest nurses taking care of me. I was able to leave the hospital the next morning and I started chemotherapy right away too! Dr. Kingsley used my Ommaya reservoir the day after I had it surgically placed.

This picture was taken right after the surgery

My Ommaya Reservoir before having the stitches removed

After having my stitches removed- I had a few scabs still but was happy with the outcome

My Overall Experience

I am very glad I chose to have an Ommaya reservoir! I had weekly treatments where my doctor would draw spinal fluid to be tested, and then also give medication directly to my fluid. This process is known as intrathecal chemotherapy. With my Ommaya reservoir, there was no pain, and I know that wouldn’t be the case with a lumbar puncture. 

Sometimes I could feel the doctor putting the needle into my skin, but most of the time I couldn’t even feel it!

The worst part of having my Ommaya reservoir was the headaches I would get after a treatment. I started getting really bad headaches. So painful I could barely move my body the day after treatment. I also started getting fevers with the headaches. After this happened twice, my doctor realized I was having a reaction called chemical meningitis. Once he realized this, he started giving me steroids with my treatments and the headaches and fevers went away. It was amazing!