Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Research Articles

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infections in Children: Do Hematologic and Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cells Examinations Correlate With the Type of Infection?

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections in children represent an increasing problem in clinical practice. However, comprehensive clinical, laboratory and microbiologic data are scarce in pediatric age. We conducted a 10-year retrospective study to (1) analyze clinical, laboratory and microbiologic parameters associated with infections in children; (2) analyze results according to the type of catheter (medicated or not), type of infection (first or relapses), type of hydrocephalus (acquired and congenital), presence or not of bacteriemia; (3) describe antibiotic susceptibilities and their evolution during the study period. Eighty-seven children with shunt infection and 61 children with mechanical shunt malfunction were enrolled. Fever, vomit, leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein were more frequent in the infected group (P < 0.001), while neurologic symptoms developed more frequently in the noninfected group (10.3% vs. 27.87%; P = 0.006). Local signs of inflammation and abdomen distension were similarly reported in the 2 groups. Children with medicated shunts had lower cell count in the CSF (12/mm3) compared with those with nonmedicated shunts (380/mm3; P < 0.0001). Gram-negative bacteria were more common in the not-medicated catheters (90.91% vs. 50% of cultures; P = 0.04). Gram-negative bacteria were identified in 50.67% of CSF cultures, Gram-positive bacteria in 53.33% and fungi were observed in 5.33%. Sixteen children (18.4%) had also a positive blood culture. Enterococci isolation was associated with relapsed infections (37.50% vs. 15.25%; P = 0.05). Our study shows that the diagnosis and management of children with shunt infections are challenging. Prospective studies with a comprehensive approach focusing on patient, medical, microbiologic and surgical risk factors for first infection are urgently needed.

132 Same Day Discharges Following Intracranial Shunt Revision: A Retrospective Safety Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Cerebrospinal fluid shunting is the mainstay for intracranial hydrocephalus but has a high rate of surgical revision secondary to infections and blockage. Traditionally, the hospital stay is one day post-operative for a non-complicated shunt revision. However, in the appropriate population we believe the same day discharge after a shunt revision is safe. METHODS: We perform a retrospective chart review of all shunt revisions performed at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center between 2014 and 2021. Patient characteristics were evaluated for the ideal demographics for same day discharge. We compared rates of emergency department visits, hospitalization, and revision at 30 and 90 days between same day discharge and control patients following shunt revision. Non-parametric, Logistic regression and Chi-squared testing was done for statistically significant with and without Propensity Score Matching. RESULTS: A total of 996 patient were examined with 56 (5.6%) patients being discharged on the same day as the surgery. On univariate analysis, patient with same day discharge were older (OR 1.019; 1.007-1.032), more like for distal shunt failure (OR 4.914; 2.792-8.649), more likely for elective surgery (OR 5.472; 2.346-12.763), and less likely to have visited the emergency department in the prior 30 d (OR 0.216; 0.112-0.413). On multivariate analysis, recent ED visit, elective surgery, and distal shunt failure remained significant. In unmatched data, same-day discharge patients had significantly less 30-day revisions (p=.035) but a comparable rate of 90-day revisions as well as 30-day and 90-day emergency room visits and hospitalization. Propensity-score matching compared 29 revisions in each group; all covariates were non-significant (p &gt; 0.05) and all 30-day and 90-day outcomes were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: These findings validate the safety profile for same day discharge in post-operative shunt patients as well as describe the preferred characteristics of our patient cohort. Elective, distal shunt failure patients are preferred for early discharge post-operatively.

Treatment of Secondary Hydrocephalus after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Hydrocephalus is one of the major complications secondly occurring with or after subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH). Hydrocephalus can be classified into acute(≦ 48 h), subacute(3-14 days), or chronic phases(≧ 2 weeks)in which a cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)shunt is required as the curative treatment at the rate of approximately 30%. On the mechanism of hydrocephalus development, it is generally accepted that an inflammatory reaction and the ensuing fibrosis process impede continuous CSF flow outward to the sinus, terminally from arachnoid granulation, leptomeninges, or ventricle walls, in addition to the mechanical blockage due to SAH clots. Several factors associated with the severity of SAH, such as a high Hunt and Hess grade, intraventricular hemorrhage, and a ruptured aneurysm in the posterior circulation also predict the development of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. The predictive scoring system is available. Effective treatment of hydrocephalus still involves the use of CSF shunts. No superiority between ventriculoperitoneal and lumboperitoneal shunts has been established. Even during oral, single antiplatelet treatment after coil embolization for ruptured aneurysms, curative shunt operation is possible with low frequency of hemorrhagic complications. Hydrocephalus should be diagnosed early and treated appropriately to improve the functional outcome of the patients after SAH.

A case report on Anaesthesia and Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt with Hydrocephalus

Childhood hydrocephalus is a common disorder in which too much Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) accumulates within the ventricles (fluid-containing spaces) of the brain and is usually the-ted by cerebrospinal fluid shunting using a ventriculoperitoneal or ventriculoarterial shunts. The most common condition is hydrocephalus, where there is dilation of the ventricular system due to an obstruction in the flow of CSF or decreased absorption of CSF by the arachnoid villi. Shunting of CSF is the treatment of choice in childhood hydrocephalus.

Fetal Tracheal Occlusion for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

(N Engl J Med. 2021;385:177–178) Studies on prenatal surgical interventions have historically been limited due to rarity and potential maternal complications. In 2011, the Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS) found neonatal benefits associated with fetal surgery, including reduced need for cerebrospinal fluid shunting and improved infant motor outcomes at 30 months of age, but also found an increased risk of premature birth and maternal complications. This study provided an important framework for studies on fetal surgery: the inclusion of short- and long-term neonatal outcomes, attention to maternal complications, careful patient selection, and the use of multiple care centers.

Disturbances of cerebrospinal fluid dynamics as a complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: predictors of development and influence of aneurysm occlusion method on the development of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus

Objective ‒ to study the effect of ruptured aneurysm localization, severity of hemorrhage and aneurysm occlusion method on the probability of developing shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (SDH) and to assess the prognostic sensitivity of clinical and radiological scales.Materials and methods. The results of treatment of 597 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) of varying severity were analyzed. In 282 cases endovascular occlusion of the aneurysm was performed, in 315 ‒ microsurgical clipping. A group of 63 patients who required implantation of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt system within 3 to 15 weeks after aneurysm rupture was selected.Results. Of the patients who underwent coiling of the ruptured aneurysm, 22 (7.8 %) required implantation of the cerebrospinal fluid shunt system, and 41 (13.0 %) of the patients who underwent microsurgery. The mean age of patients in the endovascular occlusion group was 64.28 years, in the microsurgical clipping group ‒ 50.64 years. The localization was dominated by aneurysms of the anterior communicating artery (ACA) complex ‒ 37 (58.7 %) observations, internal carotid artery ‒ 15 (23.8 %), vertebrobasilar basin (VBB) ‒ 9 (14.3 %) and the middle cerebral artery ‒ 2 (3.2 %). The predominance of aneurysms of the ACA complex among those operated by microsurgical method (29 (70.7 %)) and VBB aneurysms among those operated on endovascularly (9 (40.9 %)) was revealed. Rupture of the aneurysm was complicated by massive SAH in 20 (31.7 %) cases, subarachnoid-parenchymal hemorrhage ‒ in 7 (11.1 %), subarachnoid-ventricular ‒ in 4 (6.4 %), subarachnoid-parenchymal-ventricular ‒ in 32 (50.8 %). The distribution by severity of hemorrhage on the Hunt‒Hess scale was as follows: grade II ‒ 10 (15.9 %) cases, grade III ‒ 26 (34.9 %), grade IV ‒ 27 (49.2 %). According to the Fisher radiological scale, grade III hemorrhage was noted in 20 (31.7 %) cases, IV ‒ in 43 (68.3 %) cases. Analysis using the Graeb scale showed the absence of blood in the ventricular system in 27 (42.9 %) cases, 1‒3 points ‒ in 9 (14.3 %), 4‒6 points ‒ in 12 (19.0 %), 7–12 points ‒ in 15 (28.8 %).Conclusions. Rupture of aneurysms of the ACA complex, accompanied by severe complicated SAH in patients operated on by microsurgery, and aneurysms of the VBB in persons operated on endovascularly, increases the risk of SDH. Endovascular occlusion of ruptured aneurysms does not increase the risk of SDH. The severity of hemorrhages of III–IV degree on the Hunt‒Hess scale and III–IV degree on the Fisher scale are predictors of SDH development.

Approach to an adult with an episode of seizure

A patient with known epilepsy who has had a single, habitual seizure and whose mental status has returned to baseline need not be transported to the emergency department (ED) unless other injuries require so, whereas a patient with no history of epilepsy who has returned to baseline following a seizure should be evaluated. The evaluation should include basic biochemical parameters, toxicology screening and a brain imaging. One should investigate circumstances that may have precipitated a seizure, such as alcohol withdrawal, stimulant use, or head injury. Risk of recurrence of seizures is more likely in those with a history of significant brain injury or infection. If the patient has a normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalograph (EEG), the likelihood of a second seizure is approximately 1 in 3; if either test result is abnormal, the chances are approximately 1 in 2; if both are abnormal, the probability rises to 2 in 3. Computed tomography (CT) scan head is very useful in the evaluation of first seizure in infants less than six months of age. The clinical characteristics predictive of an abnormal CT scan for patients presenting with seizures were age less than 6 months or age greater than 65 years, history of cysticercosis, altered mentation, closed head injury, recent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt revision, malignancy, neurocutaneous disorder and seizures with focal onset or duration longer than 15 minutes. MRI has been shown to be superior to CT for the detection of cerebral lesions associated with epilepsy.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in an infant with vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation treated by endovascular occlusion: Case report and a review of literature

IntroductionVein of Galen aneurysmal malformations (VGAMs) can, through multiple mechanisms, complicate with hydrocephalus (HCP). It is generally agreed that management strategies in this scenario should focus on endovascular embolizations. Treatment options for non-responders, however, have been only scarcely reported upon. Case presentationWe present a nine-month-old boy with a mural type VGAM complicated by HCP. Despite endovascular occlusion of the sole feeder, the child exhibited hydrocephalus progression prompting an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV). This procedure restored a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulation otherwise impaired by aqueduct obstruction. Later, a new feeder arose and a second embolization was ultimately needed in order to achieve VGAM regression. Throughout four years of follow up, the child attained all developmental marks. Discussion/conclusionVGAMs are prone to hydrocephalus development as there is both an underlying venous congestion and a mechanical, obstructive component. Although there is a rationale for addressing both components, the underlying AV shunts and subsequent venous pressure elevations usually determine failure of traditional CSF shunting strategies. It is therefore challenging to manage HCP in patients who failed to improve following endovascular embolizations. For such cases, ETV stands as an elegant minimal invasive alternative with potential to provide a more physiologic drainage route and thus better allow for neurological development.

Reconsidering Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery and Postoperative Shunt Valve Pressure Adjustment: Our Approaches Learned From Past Challenges and Failures.

Treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) continues to develop. Although ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery has a long history and is one of the most established neurosurgeries, in the 1970s, the improvement rate of iNPH triad symptoms was poor and the risks related to shunt implantation were high. This led experts to question the surgical indication for iNPH and, over the next 20 years, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery for iNPH fell out of favor and was rarely performed. However, the development of programmable-pressure shunt valve devices has reduced the major complications associated with the CSF drainage volume and appears to have increased shunt effectiveness. In addition, the development of support devices for the placement of ventricular catheters including preoperative virtual simulation and navigation systems has increased the certainty of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Secure shunt implantation is the most important prognostic indicator, but ensuring optimal initial valve pressure is also important. Since over-drainage is most likely to occur in the month after shunting, it is generally believed that a high initial setting of shunt valve pressure is the safest option. However, this does not always result in sufficient improvement of the symptoms in the early period after shunting. In fact, evidence suggests that setting the optimal valve pressure early after shunting may cause symptoms to improve earlier. This leads to improved quality of life and better long-term independent living expectations. However, in iNPH patients, the remaining symptoms may worsen again after several years, even when there is initial improvement due to setting the optimal valve pressure early after shunting. Because of the possibility of insufficient CSF drainage, the valve pressure should be reduced by one step (2–4 cmH2O) after 6 months to a year after shunting to maximize symptom improvement. After the valve pressure is reduced, a head CT scan is advised a month later.

Intercompartmental communication between the cerebrospinal and adjacent spaces during intrathecal infusions in an acute ovine in-vivo model

IntroductionThe treatment of hydrocephalus has been a topic of intense research ever since the first clinically successful use of a valved cerebrospinal fluid shunt 72 years ago. While ample studies elucidating different phenomena impacting this treatment exist, there are still gaps to be filled. Specifically, how intracranial, intrathecal, arterial, and venous pressures react and communicate with each other simultaneously.MethodsAn in-vivo sheep trial (n = 6) was conducted to evaluate and quantify the communication existing within the cranio-spinal, arterial, and venous systems (1 kHz sampling frequency). Standardized intrathecal infusion testing was performed using an automated infusion apparatus, including bolus and constant pressure infusions. Bolus infusions entailed six lumbar intrathecal infusions of 2 mL Ringer’s solution. Constant pressure infusions were comprised of six regulated pressure steps of 3.75 mmHg for periods of 7 min each. Mean pressure reactions, pulse amplitude reactions, and outflow resistance were calculated.ResultsAll sheep showed intracranial pressure reactions to acute increases of intrathecal pressure, with four of six sheep showing clear cranio-spinal communication. During bolus infusions, the increases of mean pressure for intrathecal, intracranial, arterial, and venous pressure were 16.6 ± 0.9, 15.4 ± 0.8, 3.9 ± 0.8, and 0.1 ± 0.2 mmHg with corresponding pulse amplitude increases of 2.4 ± 0.3, 1.3 ± 0.3, 1.3 ± 0.3, and 0.2 ± 0.1 mmHg, respectively. During constant pressure infusions, mean increases from baseline were 14.6 ± 3.8, 15.5 ± 4.2, 4.2 ± 8.2, and 3.2 ± 2.4 mmHg with the corresponding pulse amplitude increases of 2.5 ± 3.6, 2.5 ± 3.0, 7.7 ± 4.3, and 0.7 ± 2.0 mmHg for intrathecal, intracranial, arterial, and venous pulse amplitude, respectively. Outflow resistances were calculated as 51.6 ± 7.8 and 77.8 ± 14.5 mmHg/mL/min for the bolus and constant pressure infusion methods, respectively—showing deviations between the two estimation methods.ConclusionsStandardized infusion tests with multi-compartmental pressure recordings in sheep have helped capture distinct reactions between the intrathecal, intracranial, arterial, and venous systems. Volumetric pressure changes in the intrathecal space have been shown to propagate to the intraventricular and arterial systems in our sample, and to the venous side in individual cases. These results represent an important step into achieving a more complete quantitative understanding of how an acute rise in intrathecal pressure can propagate and influence other systems.

Neuropathological findings in possible normal pressure hydro-cephalus: A post-mortem study of 29 cases with lifelines.

Aims: There are very few detailed post-mortem studies on idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and there is a lack of proper neuropathological criteria for iNPH. This study aims to update the knowledge on the neuropathology of iNPH and to develop the neuropathological diagnostic criteria of iNPH. Methods: We evaluated the clinical lifelines and post-mortem findings of 29 patients with possible NPH. Pre-mortem cortical brain biopsies were taken from all patients during an intracranial pressure measurement or a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt surgery. Results: The mean age at the time of the biopsy was 70±8 SD years and 74±7 SD years at the time of death. At the time of death, 11/29 patients (38%) displayed normal cognition or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 9/29 (31%) moderate dementia and 9/29 (31%) severe dementia. Two of the demented patients had only scarce neuropathological findings indicating a probable hydrocephalic origin for the dementia. Amyloid-β (Aβ) and hyperphosphorylated τ (HPτ) in the biopsies predicted the neurodegenerative diseases so that there were 4 Aβ positive/low Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ADNC) cases, 4 Aβ positive/intermediate ADNC cases, 1 Aβ positive case with both low ADNC and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), 1 HPτ/PSP and primary age-related tauopathy (PART) case, 1 Aβ/HPτ and low ADNC/synucleinopathy case and 1 case with Aβ/HPτ and high ADNC. The most common cause of death was due to cardiovascular diseases (10/29, 34%), followed by cerebrovascular diseases or subdural hematoma (SDH) (8/29, 28%). Three patients died of a postoperative intracerebral hematoma (ICH). Vascular lesions were common (19/29, 65%). Conclusions: We update the suggested neuropathological diagnostic criteria of iNPH, which emphasize the rigorous exclusion of all other known possible neuropathological causes of dementia. Despite the first 2 probable cases reported here, the issue of "hydrocephalic dementia" as an independent entity still requires further confirmation. Extensive sampling (with fresh frozen tissue including meninges) with age-matched neurologically healthy controls is highly encouraged.

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery under ongoing system infectious conditions. Are there more complications?

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery under ongoing system infectious conditions. Are there more complications?

Five-year cause-specific survival after meningioma surgery. A nationwide population-based study

BackgroundSurvival after meningioma surgery is often reported with inadequate allowance for competing causes of death. MethodsWe processed the French administrative medical database (Système National des Données de Santé: SNDS), to retrieve appropriate cases of surgically treated meningioma. Cause-specific survival in meningioma-related death was analyzed with the Fine & Gray (F&G) and cause-specific (CS) Cox models to identify associated factors. ResultsFive-year cumulative incidence was 2.85% for meningioma-related death and 6.3% for unrelated death (P<0.001). In the adjusted F&G and cause-specific Cox regression models for meningioma-related death, gender, age at surgery, co-morbidities, neurofibromatosis type 2, tumor insertion, tumor grade, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt insertion, preoperative embolization and need for redo surgery for recurrence emerged as independent prognostic factors of cause-specific survival (CSS) in meningioma-related death. ConclusionAt 5 years, the risk of meningioma-unrelated death was 2.21-fold greater than the risk of dying from the meningioma disease. Five-year CSS after meningioma surgery was greater in younger adults with benign spinal meningioma with low comorbidity. Those with malignant cranial tumor requiring preoperative embolization or CSF shunting for associated hydrocephalus and with severely degraded overall health status showed a significantly increased risk of meningioma-related death. Redo surgery for recurrence failed to improve the risk of meningioma-related death. We recommend the use of net survival methods such as CSS in meningioma studies where unrelated mortality is predominant, as this approach results in more accurate estimates of disease risk and associated predictors.

Elevated CSF inflammatory markers in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus do not promote NKCC1 hyperactivity in rat choroid plexus

BackgroundIdiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially reversible neurological condition of unresolved etiology characterized by a clinical triad of symptoms; gait disturbances, urinary incontinence, and cognitive deterioration. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular coupling between inflammatory markers and development of iNPH and determine whether inflammation-induced hyperactivity of the choroidal Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC1) that is involved in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion could contribute to the iNPH pathogenesis.MethodsLumbar CSF samples from 20 iNPH patients (10 with clinical improvement upon CSF shunting, 10 without clinical improvement) and 20 elderly control subjects were analyzed with the novel proximity extension assay technique for presence of 92 different inflammatory markers. RNA-sequencing was employed to delineate choroidal abundance of the receptors for the inflammatory markers found elevated in the CSF from iNPH patients. The ability of the elevated inflammatory markers to modulate choroidal NKCC1 activity was determined by addition of combinations of rat version of these in ex vivo experiments on rat choroid plexus.Results11 inflammatory markers were significantly elevated in the CSF from iNPH patients compared to elderly control subjects: CCL28, CCL23, CCL3, OPG, CXCL1, IL-18, IL-8, OSM, 4E-BP1, CXCL6, and Flt3L. One inflammatory marker, CDCP1, was significantly decreased in iNPH patients compared to control subjects. None of the inflammatory markers differed significantly when comparing iNPH patients with and without clinical improvement upon CSF shunting. All receptors for the elevated inflammatory markers were expressed in the rat and human choroid plexus, except CCR4 and CXCR1, which were absent from the rat choroid plexus. None of the elevated inflammatory markers found in the CSF from iNPH patients modulated the choroidal NKCC1 activity in ex vivo experiments on rat choroid plexus.ConclusionThe CSF from iNPH patients contains elevated levels of a subset of inflammatory markers. Although the corresponding inflammatory receptors are, in general, expressed in the choroid plexus of rats and humans, their activation did not modulate the NKCC1-mediated fraction of choroidal CSF secretion ex vivo. The molecular mechanisms underlying ventriculomegaly in iNPH, and the possible connection to inflammation, therefore remains to be elucidated.

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Drainage Increases With Gravity and Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure Pulsations: Benchtop Model.

There have been few improvements in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt technology since John Holter introduced the silicon valve, with overdrainage remaining a major source of complications. To better understand why valves are afflicted by supra-normal CSF flow rates. We present in Vitro benchtop analyses of flow through a differential pressure valve under simulated physiological conditions. The pseudo-ventricle benchtop valve testing platform that comprises a rigid pseudo-ventricle, compliance chamber, pulsation generator, and pressure sensors was used to measure flow rates through a differential pressure shunt valve under the following simulated physiological conditions: orientation (horizontal/vertical), compliance (low/medium/high), and pulsation generator force (low/medium/high). Our data show that pulse pressures are faithfully transmitted from the ventricle to the valve, that lower compliance and higher pulse generator forces lead to higher pulse pressures in the pseudo-ventricle, and that both gravity and higher pulse pressure lead to higher flow rates. The presence of a valve mitigates but does not eliminate these higher flow rates. Shunt valves are prone to gravity-dependent overdrainage, which has motivated the development of gravitational valves and antisiphon devices. This study shows that overdrainage is not limited to the vertical position but that pulse pressures that simulate rhythmic (eg, cardiac) and provoked (eg, Valsalva) physiological CSF pulsations increase outflow in both the horizontal and vertical positions and are dependent on compliance. A deeper understanding of the physiological parameters that affect intracranial pressure and flow through shunt systems is prerequisite to the development of novel valves.

Tap Test Can Predict Cognitive Improvement in Patients With iNPH-Results From the Multicenter Prospective Studies SINPHONI-1 and -2.

Background: We analyzed the predictive value of the tap test (TT) on the outcome of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) and cognitive impairment up to 12 months postoperatively.Methods: We analyzed the data of two prospective multicenter studies on ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) and lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) use in iNPH patients. We selected patients with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores ≤ 26 points as study subjects. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to obtain the optimal threshold of MMSE scores after TT to predict the score improvement at 12 months following shunting and that helped to control for confounding factors such as age and MMSE scores before TT. We used logistic regression models to identify variables with age-adjusted odds ratio (A-OR) and multivariate-adjusted OR (M-OR).Results: For an improvement of ≥3 points in the MMSE score cutoff 7 days following TT in VPS and LPS cohort studies, the MMSE scores improved by 6 points after 12 months. The VPS cohort had sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) of 69.2, 73.7, and 0.771%, respectively; however, for the LPS cohort, they were 86.2, 90.9, and 0.906%, respectively. For MMSE scores that improved by ≥3 points in patients after the TT, the possibility of an improvement by 6 points at 12 months following CSF shunt had A-OR 7.77 and M-OR 6.3 times for the VPS, and A-OR 62.3 and M-OR 59.6 times for the LPS cohort.Conclusion: CSF shunting contributes to improved cognitive function in iNPH patients. Furthermore, MMSE score evaluation at the TT can sensitively predict improvement in postoperative MMSE scores following LPS intervention.Clinical Trial Registration: SINPHONI-1 (ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT00221091), first posted: September 22, 2005.SINPHONI-2 [University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) Clinical Trials no. UMIN000002730], the posted: February 1, 2010.

Mortality in Outpatients with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

To study the demographic and clinical characteristics of preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) to identify the factors most strongly predictive of outpatient mortality, with the goal of identifying those individuals at greatest risk. Demographic and clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed for 862 subjects recruited from an outpatient BPD clinic. Characteristics of the deceased and living participants were compared using nonparametric analysis. Regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Of the 862 subjects, 13 (1.5%) died during follow-up, for an overall mortality rate of approximately 15.1 deaths per 1000 subjects. Two patients died in the postneonatal period (annual mortality incidence, 369.9 per 100 000), 9 died between age 1 and 4years (annual mortality incidence, 310.2 per 100 000), and 2 died between age of 5 and 14years (annual mortality incidence, 71.4 per 100 000). After adjusting for gestational age and BPD severity, mortality was found to be associated with the amount of supplemental oxygen required at discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 4.10; P=.001), presence of a gastrostomy tube (aHR, 8.13; P=.012), and presence of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt (aHR, 4.31; P=.021). The incidence of mortality among preterm infants with BPD is substantially higher than that seen in the general population. The need for greater amounts of home supplemental oxygen and the presence of a gastrostomy tube or CSF shunt were associated with an increased risk of postdischarge mortality. Future studies should focus on clarifying risk factors for the development of severe disease to allow for early identification and treatment of those at highest risk.

Improving the detection of ventricular shunt disruption using volume-rendered three-dimensional head computed tomography

Hydrocephalus is the most common neurosurgical disorder in children, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion with shunt placement is the most commonly performed pediatric neurosurgical procedure. CT is frequently used to evaluate children with suspected CSF shunt malfunction to assess change in ventricular size. Moreover, careful review of the CT images is important to confirm the integrity of the imaged portions of the shunt system. Subtle shunt disruptions can be missed on multiplanar two-dimensional (2-D) CT images, especially when the disruption lies in the plane of imaging. The use of volume-rendered CT images enables radiologists to view the extracranial shunt tubing within the field of view as a three-dimensional (3-D) object. This allows for a rapid and intuitive method of assessing the integrity of the extracranial shunt tubing. The purpose of this pictorial essay is to discuss how volume-rendered CT images can be generated to evaluate CSF shunts in the pediatric population and to provide several examples of their utility in diagnosing shunt disruption. We also address the potential pitfalls of this technique and ways to avoid them.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Amyloid-β Oligomer Levels in Patients with Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Background:The amyloid-β oligomers, consisting of 10–20 monomers (AβO10–20), have strong neurotoxicity and are associated with cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, their role in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is poorly understood.Objective:We hypothesized that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AβO10–20 accumulates in patients with iNPH, and its clearance after CSF shunting contributes to neurological improvement. We measured CSF AβO10–20 levels before and after CSF shunting in iNPH patients evaluating their diagnostic and prognostic role.Methods:We evaluated two iNPH cohorts: “evaluation” (cohort-1) with 32 patients and “validation” (cohort-2) with 13 patients. Comparison cohorts included: 27 neurologically healthy controls (HCs), and 16 AD, 15 Parkinson’s disease (PD), and 14 progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) patients. We assessed for all cohorts CSF AβO10–20 levels and their comprehensive clinical data. iNPH cohort-1 pre-shunting data were compared with those of comparison cohorts, using cohort-2 for validation. Next, we compared cohort-1’s clinical and CSF data: 1) before and after CSF shunting, and 2) increased versus decreased AβO10–20 levels at baseline, 1 and 3 years after shunting.Results:Cohort-1 had higher CSF AβO10–20 levels than the HCs, PD, and PSP cohorts. This result was validated with data from cohort-2. CSF AβO10–20 levels differentiated cohort-1 from the PD and PSP groups, with an area under receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94. AβO10–20 levels in cohort-1 decreased after CSF shunting. Patients with AβO10–20 decrease showed better cognitive outcome than those without.Conclusion:AβO10–20 accumulates in patients with iNPH and is eliminated by CSF shunting. AβO10–20 can be an applicable diagnostic and prognostic biomarker.

Molecular Characterization of Microbiota in Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With CSF Shunt Infections Using Whole Genome Amplification Followed by Shotgun Sequencing.

Understanding the etiology of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infections and reinfections requires detailed characterization of associated microorganisms. Traditionally, identification of bacteria present in the CSF has relied on culture methods, but recent studies have used high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA genes. Here we evaluated the method of shotgun DNA sequencing for its potential to provide additional genomic information. CSF samples were collected from 3 patients near the beginning and end of each of 2 infection episodes. Extracted total DNA was sequenced by: (1) whole genome amplification followed by shotgun sequencing (WGA) and (2) high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 region (16S). Taxonomic assignments of sequences from WGA and 16S were compared with one another and with conventional microbiological cultures. While classification of bacteria was consistent among the 3 approaches, WGA provided additional insights into sample microbiological composition, such as showing relative abundances of microbial versus human DNA, identifying samples of questionable quality, and detecting significant viral load in some samples. One sample yielded sufficient non-human reads to allow assembly of a high-quality Staphylococcus epidermidis genome, denoted CLIMB1, which we characterized in terms of its MLST profile, gene complement (including putative antimicrobial resistance genes), and similarity to other annotated S. epidermidis genomes. Our results demonstrate that WGA directly applied to CSF is a valuable tool for the identification and genomic characterization of dominant microorganisms in CSF shunt infections, which can facilitate molecular approaches for the development of better diagnostic and treatment methods.