Abstract
The purpose of this study is to assess the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in children under 1 year of age. The authors analyzed data of ETV in their institution. Between January 1995 and December 2008, 52 ETV procedures were performed for the treatment of hydrocephalus in 49 infants (32 male and 17 female). Their age ranged from 6 days to just under 12 months (mean age 6.2 months). The cause of hydrocephalus was occlusive in 43 patients (aqueduct stenosis in 31, Chiari II malformation in eight, Dandy-Walker cyst in two, quadrigeminal lipoma in one, and cerebellopontine angle arachnoid cyst in one patient). Communicating hydrocephalus was caused by intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, and/or ventriculitis in six patients. The overall success rate was 69.4% with mean follow-up period of 68.2 months. Patients with aqueduct stenosis had a higher success rate of ETV which was 77.4%. Seven infants were born preterm, six of them required a permanent ventriculoperitoneal shunts (VPS; P = 0.003). Malfunctioned VPS was removed in two patients following ETV. There was one death from intracranial hemorrhage, two cerebrospinal fluid leaks, and one meningitis. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy can be considered a possible treatment procedure alternative to VPS for the treatment of occlusive hydrocephalus in infants. ETV was effective in full-term infants while the results in low birth weight, preterm infants were poor. Success of ETV is not only age dependent but also etiology dependent. Infants with occlusive hydrocephalus treated with VPS, who present with shunt failure, could be treated by ETV and removal of the shunt device.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
