Improving Methods of Diagnosis and Treatment of Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus in Young Children

Abstract

BackgroundOne of the most severe perinatal lesions of the central nervous system is intraventricular hemorrhage, which often, especially in prematurely born babies with low gestational age and body weight, is complicated by posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, which requires good early diagnosis and timely treatment. The purpose of the article is to improve the methods of diagnosis and treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in young children. MethodsThe study was conducted between 2009 and 2018 in the neurosurgical department of the City Children's Hospital No. 2 in Astana. Three groups of patients from birth to age six months were studied. During the investigation the following research methods were used: clinical and anamnestic, laboratory, instrumental, and methods of mathematical statistics. Statistical analysis was performed using the program Statistica for Windows 13.0 (StatSoft Inc. No. JPZ804I382130ARCN10-J). Patients of the main and control groups underwent various surgical interventions to relieve posthemorrhagic occlusive hydrocephalus. ResultsIt was found that the maximum number of complications develop in newborns with low gestational age and low body weight. Repeated lumbar or ventricular punctures in patients with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus followed by external drainage are characterized by the greatest number of complications, among which infection and catheter occlusion prevail. ConclusionsIt has been established that the proposed algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus can significantly reduce the number of complications, shorten the duration of hospital stay, reduce the percentage of long-term complications, and improve the quality of life.