Secondary Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Research Articles

Predicting endoscopic third ventriculostomy success in pediatric shunt dysfunction: a monocentric retrospective case series of 70 consecutive children, systematic review, and meta-analysis.

The outcome of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in children who had previously received shunts and who were experiencing shunt dysfunction is still discussed in terms of efficacy (success rate from 40% to 80%) and safety (0%-32.5% of complications). Reported predictive factors of secondary ETV failure are age, early onset of hydrocephalus, and prematurity. The best surgical strategy in the different subgroups of patients with shunt dysfunction is still debated. Therefore, the authors aimed to identify subgroups of patients in whom shunt treatment was associated with favorable outcome of ETV, to define the role of ETV in patients with global rostral midbrain dysfunction syndrome. This study was a monocentric retrospective case series and a meta-analysis of children who had previously received shunts and who underwent secondary ETV for shunt dysfunction between 2012 and 2022. Clinical and MRI features were examined, along with surgical outcome, etiology of hydrocephalus, and preoperative ETV Success Score. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to find predictors of outcome of secondary ETV. Youden's J index was calculated on age distribution to find an optimal age cutoff. Systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis were performed according to the PRISMA statement. Seventy consecutive patients were included. The overall success rate of secondary ETV was 63%. Primary obstructive hydrocephalus, age ≥ 36 months, and the presence of aqueductal obstruction were predictors of ETV success. Multivariate analysis found that age < 36 months, primary inflammatory hydrocephalus, and presence of fourth ventricular obstruction were associated with ETV failure. All patients with global rostral midbrain dysfunction syndrome experienced clinical and radiological improvement after ETV. The meta-analysis showed that postinflammatory etiology and age < 36 months were predictors of ETV failure. ETV is safe and effective for children with obstructive hydrocephalus experiencing shunt dysfunction, notably in cases of primary obstructive hydrocephalus with aqueductal stenosis, and among children whose age was ≥ 36 months who had postinflammatory hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for shunt malfunction in the pediatric population: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression analysis.

Despite growing published evidence of the merits of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) instead of shunt revision at the time of shunt malfunction (secondary ETV), concerns about its efficacy and complications remain and ETV is still not used widely in this context. This study aimed to carry out a comprehensive meta-analysis and reports on the success and safety of secondary ETV in the pediatric age group. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches of Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central were undertaken from database inception to September 7, 2022. ETV success was defined as the lack of need for a shunt and was the primary outcome measure. Secondary outcome measures were the rates of complications and mortality. A random-effects model was used. Summary-level meta-regression was performed to identify predictors for success in accordance with the ETV Success Score (ETVSS). Sixteen studies reporting on 584 patients who underwent secondary ETV for shunt malfunction were included in the meta-analysis. The overall pooled mean (95% CI) age was 6.1 (3-9) years, and 57.0% of patients were male. The pooled prevalence rates of the hydrocephalus etiologies were as follows: aqueduct stenosis (39.3%); myelomeningocele (27.6%); postinfectious (17.1%); posthemorrhagic (13.0%); neoplasm (13.0%); and malformation (11.3%). The overall pooled success rates of ETV for shunt malfunction at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months were 65.69% (95% CI 52%-77%, prediction interval 47%-81%, I2 = 0, p = 0.775); 63.25% (95% CI 54%-72%, prediction interval 38%-83%, I2 = 65, p < 0.001); and 53.37% (95% CI 24%-81%, prediction interval 1%-99%, I2 = 47, p = 0.154). The overall pooled prevalence of intraoperative bleeding was 4.96% (95% CI 0%-64%, prediction interval 0%-99%, I2 = 85, p < 0.001). The overall rates of complications were low, with new neurological deficit (transient or permanent) having the highest rate at 1.61% (95% CI 0.68%-3.72%, prediction interval 0.67%-3.78%, I2 = 0, p > 0.999). On meta-regression, age (p = 0.138), proportion of patients with postinfectious hydrocephalus (p = 0.8736), and number of shunt revisions (p = 0.1775) were not statistically significant predictors of secondary ETV success at 6 months. This meta-analysis demonstrates that secondary ETV after shunt malfunction in pediatric patients is a feasible option with acceptable success rates and low complication rates. Clinical trial registration no.: CRD42022359573 (PROSPERO).

A case of rapid deterioration in a subacute period after endoscopic third ventriculostomy

Background: Although generally a safe procedure, serious postoperative complications after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for obstructive hydrocephaly have been rarely reported, such as delayed obstruction of the stoma at the third ventricle floor. Case description: A 20-year-old male was referred to our department because of severe headache and diplopia. A pineal tumour and obstructive hydrocephaly were detected in preoperative imaging. After tumour biopsy and ETV, the reduction of ventricle size and improvement of headaches were immediately observed. On the seventh day, however, he developed a rapidly progressing consciousness disturbance due to severe hydrocephalus leading to urgent secondary ETV. The original ventriculostomy stoma at the third ventricle floor was completely occluded by scar adhesion. The patient recovered well as previously and received additional treatment. Conclusion: Although very rare, occlusion of the ventriculostomy stoma can postoperatively occur in the subacute period. Patients undergoing ETV for obstructive hydrocephalus due to a pineal tumour should be carefully monitored to avoid serious consequences.

SURG-27. TREATING HYDROCEPHALUS IN DIFFUSE MIDLINE GLIOMAS WITH AN H3 K27M MUTATION

Abstract BACKGROUND Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) are a subset of malignant gliomas that share a characteristic Histone H3K27M mutation. These tumors are centrally located and may cause hydrocephalus on initial presentation. DMG lack characteristic imaging that distinguish from other primary brain tumors in the midline. We conducted this retrospective chart review of 43 consecutive patients presenting with midline tumors to determine: how many had a DMG; whether DMG patients with hydrocephalus were candidates for resection; and what the outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement were, as compared to wild type (WT) tumors. METHODS We conducted an IRB approved retrospective chart review of patients presenting with midline tumors from 9/2016-3/2020 to determine H3K27M mutation status, hydrocephalus, and neurosurgery intervention. RESULTS The median age of all midline tumor patients was 19.1 years (range 1.1-80.1). 26% (11/43) of midline tumors presented with H3K27M mutation, with a higher rate of hydrocephalus compared to patients without mutation [7/11 (65%) for DMG vs. 6/32 (19%) for WT, p&amp;lt; 0.05]. Of the seven H3K27M patients presenting with hydrocephalus, none were candidates for resection, 5 underwent ETV, and 2 underwent VPS placement as initial management. 4 out of these 5 ETVs failed within an average of 24 days (6-42 days). 2 patients then underwent VP shunt placement; the other 2 underwent secondary ETV but both failed and required VP shunting as well. All 6 WT tumor patients had one procedure (1 ETV, 5 resection) to relieve hydrocephalus, and no patients had recurrent hydrocephalus. CONCLUSIONS Both pediatric and adult patients may present with DMG associated with a higher rate of unresectable tumors and hydrocephalus on presentation. Furthermore, these data suggest that neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy and septum pellucidum fenestration for the management of obstructive hydrocephalus in patients with DMG may be less robust than shunting.

The Outcomes of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in the Treatment of Hydrocephalus: 317 Pediatric and Adult Cases.

To evaluate the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) as a primary or secondary treatment for hydrocephalus and factors affecting ETV success. Pediatric and adult patients with symptomatic hydrocephalus treated with ETV during 11 years (2008?2019) in our clinic were retrospectively evaluated. Patients were divided into primary ETV group, in which ETV was the first method of hydrocephalus treatment, and secondary ETV group, in which cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage procedures were initially attempted. Statistical data analyses were performed to compare the outcomes of primary and secondary ETV groups. In total, 317 patients treated with ETV [140 (44%) patients aged 3?18 years and 177 (55%) aged 19?80 years] were followed-up for a mean duration of 60 months. Primary and secondary ETV groups comprised 207 and 110 patients, respectively. Further, 170 (82%) patients in the primary ETV group and fifty-nine patients (53%) in the secondary ETV group benefited from ETV. Primary ETV was associated with the highest probability of success (OR: 11.87). Increasing age (OR: 0.97) and male sex (OR: 4.719) increase the probability of achieving success. The overall prediction accuracy of the model was 72.2%. Kaplan?Meier survival analysis showed no significant difference between categorical groups in terms of time to failure (1.3 and 5 years), sex, ETV type, and categorized age (below 18 and above) (p > 0.05). Complications occurred during or after ETV in 14 patients. Unlike most studies, our study includes both adult and pediatric groups. According to the findings obtained in our study, the recovery rate was higher in the primary ETV group (82%) than in the secondary ETV group (53%). According to the model we created, our prediction rate of recovery was 72%. Primary ETV, male sex, and advanced age are important predictors of success in ETV.

Role of Secondary Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Children: Review of an Institutional Experience

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become a standard and safe procedure for obstructive hydrocephalus. ETV can also play an important role in children presenting with shunt malfunction with an added advantage of shunt independence. Secondary ETV can be defined as either a redo endoscopic ventriculostomy done after primary ETV stoma closure or that done in cases presenting with shunt malfunction. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of secondary ETV in the pediatric age group patients. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 36 children (<18 years) who underwent ETV after shunt malfunction and 4 children with ETV done after previous ETV stoma closure from 2004 until 2018. In all patients, the obstructive pattern suggesting aqueduct outflow obstruction was observed on MRI. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 4.25 years. Results: ETV was considered successful if the patient avoided a shunt insertion later on in their life. Considering this definition, a success rate of 72% was observed with secondary ETV for shunt malfunction whereas a success rate of 75% was observed after primary ETV failure without any major side effects in any of the patients. Conclusion: ETV can be considered a primary treatment modality in children with shunt malfunction and has a good success rate in cases presenting with closure of previously performed ETV stoma.

Shunted Hydrocephalus: Who Has More Chances to Get Rid of the Shunt?

The natural history and the outlook of patients with hydrocephalus are dramatically affected using cerebrospinal fluid shunts. The several issues related with a long-standing shunt should suffice to justify all the possible attempts to free the patient from it. This study focused on the role of secondary endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the achievement of shunt removal in cases of shunt malfunction, and to identify patients who could benefit most from the procedure. In the period of 2006-2015, ETV was attempted in 47 patients >6 months old with ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction who presented with increased ventricle size compared with the previous neuroradiological examinations; simultaneously the shunt was removed or ligated. The overall success rate of secondary ETV was 74% (shunt-free patients with normalized intracranial pressure and absence of symptoms attributable to hydrocephalus) in patients with a long shunt duration (up to 30 years). The number of previous shunt revision procedures (P= 0.026) and lower age (P= 0.017) correlate with the likelihood of secondary ETV failure, a score of 80 as ETV success score (calculated for both pediatric and adult patients, even if the score was meant for the pediatric population) correlates with secondary ETV success (P= 0.014). Many patients with shunt malfunction can benefit from secondary ETV even after decades of shunting. Age at secondary ETV, the number of previous shunt revisions, and the ETV success score can help to better identify the best candidates for the procedure.

213 Efficacy of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) After Shunt Malfunction in the Pediatric Age Group

Abstract INTRODUCTION ETV is increasingly used in place of shunt revision for shunt malfunction (secondary ETV). In this meta-analysis, we sought to explore the impact of hydrocephalus aetiology on outcome of secondary versus primary ETV in the pediatric age group. METHODS Systematic and independent MEDLINE searches by two authors. Inclusion criteria: (1) studies including a predominance of children and adolescents ( = 18); (2) description of clinical outcomes after secondary ETV. ETV success was defined as the lack of need for a shunt. RESULTS &gt;Fifteen studies were included. 519 patients underwent a secondary ETV for shunt malfunction (85%) or infection (15%). The mean age was 9.8 years (95% CI 7.9-11.8 years). Aetiology of hydrocephalus was: chiari malformation (31.5%), aqueductal stenosis (29.3%), intraventricular haemorrhage (17.7%), meningitis (13.1%) and tumours (8.4%). The overall ETV success rate was 70.5% over a median follow-up period of 45.5 months (range 1–190 months). For acqueductal stenosis and tumours, there was no significant difference in success rate between primary and secondary ETV (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.46-3.11; P = 0.74). Secondary ETV had a significantly higher success rate than primary ETV in patients with hydrocephalus due to chiari malformation (OR = 5.57, 95% CI 2.81-11.00; P &lt; 0.001) and haemorrhage or infection (OR = 5.79, 95% CI 2.46-13.61; P &lt; 0.001). CONCLUSION The efficacy of secondary ETV varies depending on hydrocephalus aetiology. Secondary ETV may be more efficacious than primary ETV in certain disease states due to a state of acquired acqueductal stenosis with chronic CSF diversion.

Role of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Shunt Malfunction

Background Shunt placement was a standard treatment for patients with hydrocephalus. The risk of shunt malfunction is quite high. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for hydrocephalus is an important advancement for patients with hydrocephalus. The aim is to study the role of ETV in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. Methods A prospective study of 21 patients with shunt malfunction, who underwent secondary ETV instead of shunt revision, was conducted in Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi. Patients data included age, cause of hydrocephalus, number of previous shunt surgeries, and outcome after ETV. Shunt was removed in all patients at the time of ETV. Success was defined as shunt independence till the last follow-up. Results There were 17 males and 4 females. The age range was 2 months to 53 years. Eleven patients had communicating and 10 patients had noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Overall success rate of ETV was 61.90% with 80% (8/10) in noncommunicating and 45.45% (5/11) in communicating hydrocephalus. None of the possible contributing factors for successful ETV, including age (p = 0.088), the etiology of hydrocephalus (p = 0.296), and number of previous shunt surgeries (p = 0.399), were statistically significantly correlated with outcome in our series. Overall complication rate was 14.2%. No death was reported. Conclusion ETV is an effective alternative for patients who present with shunt malfunction. Age, etiology, type of hydrocephalus, and number of shunt revisions did not have a significant impact on outcome of ETV.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of adult hydrocephalus: long-term follow-up of 163 patients.

OBJECTIVE The efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus has been extensively reported in the literature. However, ETV-related long-term outcome data are lacking for the adult hydrocephalus population. The objective of the present study was to assess the role of ETV as a primary or secondary treatment for hydrocephalus in adults. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective chart review of all adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) with symptomatic hydrocephalus treated with ETV in Calgary, Canada, over a span of 20 years (1994-2014). Patients were dichotomized into a primary or secondary ETV cohort based on whether ETV was the initial treatment modality for the hydrocephalus or if other CSF diversion procedures had been previously attempted respectively. Primary outcomes were subjective patient-reported clinical improvement within 12 weeks of surgery and the need for any CSF diversion procedures after the initial ETV during the span of the study. Categorical and actuarial data analysis was done to compare the outcomes of the primary versus secondary ETV cohorts. RESULTS A total of 163 adult patients with symptomatic hydrocephalus treated with ETV were identified and followed over an average of 98.6 months (range 0.1-230.4 months). All patients presented with signs of intracranial hypertension or other neurological symptoms. The primary ETV group consisted of 112 patients, and the secondary ETV consisted of 51 patients who presented with failed ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. After the initial ETV procedure, clinical improvement was reported more frequently by patients in the primary cohort (87%) relative to those in the secondary ETV cohort (65%, p = 0.001). Additionally, patients in the primary ETV group required fewer reoperations (p < 0.001), with cumulative ETV survival time favoring this primary ETV cohort over the course of the follow-up period (p < 0.001). Fifteen patients required repeat ETV, with all but one experiencing successful relief of symptoms. Patients in the secondary ETV cohort also had a higher incidence of complications, with one occurring in 8 patients (16%) compared with 2 in the primary ETV group (2%; p = 0.010), although most complications were minor. CONCLUSIONS ETV is an effective long-term treatment for selected adult patients with hydrocephalus. The overall ETV success rate when it was the primary treatment modality for adult hydrocephalus was approximately 87%, and 99% of patients experience symptomatic improvement after 2 ETVs. Patients in whom VP shunt surgery fails prior to an ETV have a 22% relative risk of ETV failure and an almost eightfold complication rate, although mostly minor, when compared with patients who undergo a primary ETV. Most ETV failures occur within the first 7 months of surgery in patients treated with primary ETV, but the time to failure is more prolonged in patients who present with failed previous shunts.

Long-Term Outcomes of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Adults

To describe long-term outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in adults with hydrocephalus. Single-institution retrospective review of adults treated with ETV between 1998 and 2006. Patient demographic, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. The patients were divided into 2 groups: primary ETV for patients with previously untreated or newly diagnosed hydrocephalus and secondary ETV for patients with a previous shunt presenting with shunt malfunction. ETV outcome was deemed successful if the patient remained shunt-free after ETV. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression. The study population comprised 190 patients, with a median age of 43 years (range, 16-79 years). The median duration of follow-up was 112 months (range, 1-190 months). The primary ETV group contained 129 patients; the secondary ETV group, 61 patients. Operative complications occurred in 11 patients (6%). A successful outcome was obtained in 139 patients (73%). ETV failure occurred in 51 patients, with a median time to failure of 2 months (range, 0-124 months). Although the majority (86%) of ETV failures occurred within 2 years postoperatively, failure was noted in 3 cases between 5 and 10 years after intervention, including in 1 patient at a 124-month follow-up. In multivariate analysis, only previous shunt was found to influence outcomes (P= 0.021), with shorter ETV survival noted in patients with a previous shunt. Age, indication, and ETV success did not influence outcome. ETV is a safe procedure with excellent rates of long-term efficacy; however, late failure can occur, and patients should be instructed to seek medical advice if symptoms recur. A previous shunt is associated with a higher ETV failure rate.

Long-term follow-up of endoscopic third ventriculostomy performed in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an effective treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus and avoids the risk for foreign-body infection associated with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. The short-term failure rate of ETV strongly depends on the indications for its use but is generally thought to be lower in the long term than that of VP shunts. However, few studies are available with long-term follow-up data of ETV for hydrocephalus in children. The authors reviewed the long-term success of ETV at their institution to investigate the rate of any late failures of this procedure. METHODS Between April 1998 and June 2006, 113 children (including neonates and children up to 16 years old) had primary or secondary ETV for different causes of hydrocephalus. The patients' medical records and the authors' electronic operation database were reviewed for evidence of additional surgery (i.e., repeat ETV or VP shunt insertion). These records were checked at both the pediatric and adult neurosurgical hospitals for those patients who had their care transferred to adult services. RESULTS The median length of follow-up was 8.25 years (range 1 month to 16 years). Long-term follow-up data for 96 patients were available, 47 (49%) of whom had additional ETV or VP shunt insertion for ETV failure. Twenty patients (21%) had a second procedure within 1 month, 17 patients (18%) between 1 and 12 months, 7 patients (7%) between 1 and 5 years, and 3 patients (3%) between 5 and 8 years. CONCLUSIONS In the authors' series, ETV had an initial early failure rate for the treatment of pediatric hydrocephalus as reported previously, and this rate significantly depended on patient age and hydrocephalus etiology. Once stabilized and effective, ETV appeared to be durable but not guaranteed, and some late decline in effectiveness was observed, with some ETV failures occurring many years later. Thus, successful ETV in children cannot be guaranteed for life, and some form of follow-up is recommended long term into adulthood.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for treatment of adult hydrocephalus: long-term followup with 163 patients

Introduction: Treatment of specific patterns of symptomatic hydrocephalus in the adult patient may be accomplished with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) as an alternative to insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. This review examines a single center experience with ETV to treat hydrocephalus in symptomatic adult patients. Methods: Adult patients (≥18 years) with a diagnosis of hydrocephalus who were treated with ETV in Calgary between January 1994 and July 2014 were reviewed using a clinic database and registry. Results: 163 patients were identified (male=92; female=71). Mean age at the time of ETV was 46.5 years (range 18-83.4 years). 118 underwent ETV as a primary treatment and 45 patients underwent treatment after presenting with VP shunt failure (secondary ETV). 113/163 patients had a diagnosis of aqueductal stenosis, 22/163 had a diagnosis of tumor. Mean followup was 8.2 years (range 0.3-18.4 years). Symptoms in 149/163 (91.4%) of ETV patients were better or unchanged at last followup. 104/118 (88.1%) of primary ETV patients were shunt free at last followup. 39/45 (86.7%) of secondary ETV patients were shunt free at last followup. Conclusion: Endoscopic (ETV) treatment is an effective long-term treatment for a select population of adult patients with hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Patients with Shunt Malfunction

This paper presents data from a retrospective study of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in patients with shunt malfunction and proposes a simple and reasonable post-operative protocol that can detect ETV failure. We enrolled 19 consecutive hydrocephalus patients (11 male and 8 female) who were treated with ETV between April 2001 and July 2010 after failure of previously placed shunts. We evaluated for correlations between the success rate of ETV and the following parameters : age at the time of surgery, etiology of hydrocephalus, number of shunt revisions, interval between the initial diagnosis of hydrocephalus or the last shunt placement and ETV, and the indwelling time of external ventricular drainage. At the time of ETV after shunt failure, 14 of the 19 patients were in the pediatric age group and 5 were adults, with ages ranging from 14 months to 42 years (median age, 12 years). The patients had initially been diagnosed with hydrocephalus between the ages of 1 month 24 days and 32 years (median age, 6 years 3 months). The etiology of hydrocephalus was neoplasm in 7 patients; infection in 5; malformation, such as aqueductal stenosis or megacisterna magna in 3; trauma in 1; and unknown in 3. The overall success rate during the median follow-up duration of 1.4 years (9 days to 8.7 years) after secondary ETV was 68.4%. None of the possible contributing factors for successful ETV, including age (p=0.97) and the etiology of hydrocephalus (p=0.79), were statistically correlated with outcomes in our series. The use of ETV in patients with shunt malfunction resulted in shunt independence in 68.4% of cases. Age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and other contributing factors were not statistically correlated with ETV success. External ventricular drainage management during the immediate post-ETV period is a good means of detecting ETV failure.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in patients younger than 2 years: outcome analysis of 41 hydrocephalus cases

The object of this study was to analyze the outcome of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in patients under 2 years of age and investigate factors related to ETV success or failure in this patient population. The authors reviewed their experience in using endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of 41 hydrocephalus patients younger than 2 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 45 months. The relationship between ETV efficacy and the following variables was analyzed: cause of hydrocephalus, level of CSF occlusion, primary versus secondary ETV, type of surgical procedure, head circumference, patient age at ETV, patient age at first manifestation of hydrocephalus, and anatomical features of the ventricle. Success of ETV was assessed based on the results of neurological examination and postoperative imaging during the follow-up period. The authors performed 32 primary ETVs and 10 secondary ETVs (ETV after hydrocephalus surgery) in 41 patients (a second ETV was performed in 1 patient). The success rates of primary and secondary ETV were 75.8 and 55.6%, respectively (no significant difference, p = 0.15). The ETV was clinically and radiologically successful in 30 (71.4%) of 42 procedures during a mean (+/- SD) follow-up period of 45.0 +/- 4.8 months (range 12-127 months). A negative relationship was found between success of ETV and the thickness of the floor of the third ventricle (the most effective procedures were those in which the floor of the ventricle was thinnest [p < 0.05]). There was a highly significant correlation between ETV success and prolapse of the ventricle floor (p < 0.001). Also, there was an inverse relationship between ventricle floor thickness and the width of the third ventricle (p < 0.005). In our group of patients there was significant correlation between ETV success and patient age at onset of hydrocephalus (the most effective procedures were in patients in whom signs of hydrocephalus first occurred after 1 month of age [p = 0.02]). Endoscopic third ventriculostomy was successful in 71.4% of procedures in children younger than 2 years and in 75.0% of procedures in infants. Success of ETV in children younger than 2 years depends not on the age of the patient or cause of hydrocephalus but on the thickness of the floor of the third ventricle and the patient's age at first manifestation of hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in previously shunted children: a retrospective study

The aim of this study was to assess the mid-term results, success rates, and time-to-failure of secondary endoscopic third ventriculostomy (secondary ETV), as well as the complex management of preoperative and postoperative cares. To this purpose, a retrospective analysis of a pediatric population of 22 children who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) after shunt malfunction (secondary ETV) was performed. The failure rate, given by the percentage of new shunt replacement in the first 3 months after ETV, was 36%, with a mean time to failure of 14.3 days. All the failures were evident within 1 month after the ETV. Despite the small number of patients in our series, we found no significant correlation between ETV failure and both patient age and hydrocephalus etiology (p = 0.47 and p = 0.78, respectively). In our experience, ETV secondary to shunt malfunction in pediatric patients has a success rate of 64%. As it is a safe and rapid treatment option even in emergency conditions, it is worth performing this procedure in previously shunted children.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy: an outcome analysis of primary cases and procedures performed after ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction

The authors analyzed the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) as a primary treatment for hydrocephalus and also as an alternative to shunt revision for malfunctioning and infected ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. A retrospective analysis of clinical notes, operation records, and magnetic resonance imaging procedures before and after ventriculostomy was performed to determine the success or failure of ETVs in 170 patients who underwent a primary ETV and in 63 patients who underwent an ETV for shunt malfunction (secondary ETV). The patients' data were derived from an endoscopy database inaugurated in 1998. Of the 63 patients with shunt malfunctions, 49 patients (78%) had mechanical malfunction only and 14 patients (22%) had both infection and malfunction. Seventy-four percent (126 of 170) of patients in the primary ETV group and 70% (44 of 63) of patients in the secondary ETV had a successful outcome at the time of analysis. The success rate for ETVs in cases involving a mechanical shunt malfunction alone was 67% (33 of 49) compared with 79% (11 of 14) in those cases involving an infected shunt. The origin of the hydrocephalus in the primary and shunt malfunction groups was evaluated as a factor contributing to the success of the ETV. In the primary group, patients with a history of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and meningitis as a cause for hydrocephalus had a poor rate of success after the ETV--27% (four of 15) and 0% (none of two), respectively. This pattern was not seen in the series involving shunt malfunction after the ETV, with 71% (five of seven) and 75% (three of four) of cases having a hydrocephalus origin of IVH and meningitis, respectively, in which a successful outcome was attained. A two-way mixed-model analysis of variance yielded a significant effect for origin (p = 0.011), a significant interaction between group and origin (p = 0.028), and a marginally nonsignificant effect of group (p = 0.0686). More than 95% of failures were evident within 1 month of the ETV in both groups. Complications were minimal in both groups, and there were no procedure-related deaths. An ETV is a safe procedure with few complications and a high success rate in both primary and secondary groups. An ETV to address shunt malfunction, unlike a primary ETV, is not particularly origin specific. A bonus is its success in dealing with infected shunts. Most failures will be evident early, but long-term follow up is vital.

Smoke induced airway obstruction

To describe long-term outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in adults with hydrocephalus.Single-institution retrospective review of adults treated with ETV between 1998 and 2006. Patient demographic, treatment, and follow-up data were collected. The patients were divided into 2 groups: primary ETV for patients with previously untreated or newly diagnosed hydrocephalus and secondary ETV for patients with a previous shunt presenting with shunt malfunction. ETV outcome was deemed successful if the patient remained shunt-free after ETV. Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox regression.The study population comprised 190 patients, with a median age of 43 years (range, 16–79 years). The median duration of follow-up was 112 months (range, 1–190 months). The primary ETV group contained 129 patients; the secondary ETV group, 61 patients. Operative complications occurred in 11 patients (6%). A successful outcome was obtained in 139 patients (73%). ETV failure occurred in 51 patients, with a median time to failure of 2 months (range, 0–124 months). Although the majority (86%) of ETV failures occurred within 2 years postoperatively, failure was noted in 3 cases between 5 and 10 years after intervention, including in 1 patient at a 124-month follow-up. In multivariate analysis, only previous shunt was found to influence outcomes (P = 0.021), with shorter ETV survival noted in patients with a previous shunt. Age, indication, and ETV success did not influence outcome.ETV is a safe procedure with excellent rates of long-term efficacy; however, late failure can occur, and patients should be instructed to seek medical advice if symptoms recur. A previous shunt is associated with a higher ETV failure rate.