Which medical procedure involves the insertion of a tube to drain cerebrospinal fluid?

The procedure that involves the insertion of a tube to drain cerebrospinal fluid is known as a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. This medical intervention is primarily used to treat conditions that lead to increased intracranial pressure, such as hydrocephalus.

During this procedure, a catheter is placed into the ventricles of the brain where cerebrospinal fluid accumulates. The other end of the catheter is tunneled subcutaneously and attached to a valve that controls the flow of the fluid, which then drains into the peritoneal cavity. This helps to reduce pressure on the brain by providing a pathway for the excess cerebrospinal fluid to be absorbed by the body.

In contrast, carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove blockage from the carotid artery to prevent strokes, a PICC line is a long catheter placed in a vein for medication administration or blood draws, and hip arthroplasty is a surgical procedure to replace a damaged hip joint. These procedures do not involve the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, which is why they are not the correct answer.