Clinical effect of different shunting modes in patients with normal intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical effect of different shunting modes (ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and lumboperitoneal shunt) in patients with normal intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus. Methods Eighty cases of normal intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus in our hospital were divided into two groups: ventriculo-peritoneal shunt group and lumboperitoneal shunt group, 40 cases in each group, and two groups were treated by ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and lumboperitoneal shunt respectively. Then symptoms improvement and complications were observed after operation, the prognosis was evaluated also. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the improvement rates of gait instability, urinary incontinence, and progressive dementia between ventriculo-peritoneal shunt group and lumboperitoneal shunt group (64.8% vs. 60.5%, 60.7% vs. 55.6%, 72.7% vs. 68.7%; P>0.05); there were no statistically significant differences in the prognosis and the incidence of postoperative complications (12.5% vs. 7.5%) between ventriculo-peritoneal shunt group and lumboperitoneal shunt group (P>0.05). Conclusion Good therapeutic effect was obtained in patients with normal intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus treated by ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and lumboperitoneal shunt, without significant differences in the prognosis and postoperative complications between two groups, which was worth using for clinical reference. Key words: Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt; Lumboperitoneal shunt; Hydrocephalus; Normal intracranial pressure; Prognosis