Transmantle and transvenous pressure gradients in cerebrospinal fluid disorders

Paediatric hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is classically considered as a failure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) homeostasis that results in the active expansion of the cerebral ventricles. Infants with hydrocephalus can present with progressive increases in head circumference whereas older children often present with signs and symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure. Congenital hydrocephalus is present at or near birth and some cases have been linked to gene mutations that disrupt brain morphogenesis and alter the biomechanics of the CSF-brain interface. Acquired hydrocephalus can develop at any time after birth, is often caused by central nervous system infection or haemorrhage and has been associated with blockage of CSF pathways and inflammation-dependent dysregulation of CSF secretion and clearance. Treatments for hydrocephalus mainly include surgical CSF shunting or endoscopic third ventriculostomy with or without choroid plexus cauterization. In utero treatment of fetal hydrocephalus is possible via surgical closure of associated neural tube defects. Long-term outcomes for children with hydrocephalus vary widely and depend on intrinsic (genetic) and extrinsic factors. Advances in genomics, brain imaging and other technologies are beginning to refine the definition of hydrocephalus, increase precision of prognostication and identify nonsurgical treatment strategies.

Venous congestive encephalopathy secondary to arteriovenous fistula aggravated by cerebrospinal fluid shunt

We present a unique clinical case of venous congestive encephalopathy in the context of a cerebral arteriovenous fistula with clinical worsening secondary to valvular overdrainage. ICP monitoring, the different pressure settings of the programable CSF shunt and the detailed clinical description that is carried out offer us enough data to understand that this case provides important pathophysiological knowledge to a little-known disease.

Predictors of visual and endocrine outcomes after endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas

Surgery for pituitary adenoma is indicated for relief of mass effect and control of endocrinopathy. Setting benchmarks for visual and hormonal outcomes is important for monitoring performance of surgical centres, while understanding the preoperative factors that predict endocrine cure and visual improvement facilitates tailored counselling for patients prior to surgery. A prospective, consecutive cohort of surgically managed (endoscopic transsphenoidal) pituitary adenoma (n = 304) were analysed. Preoperative and postoperative endocrine and visual field assessments were performed and compared to demographic, imaging and pathological data. Larger adenomas tended to have preoperative endocrine deficiency (p < 0.001) and visual field defects (p < 0.001). The largest tumours did not experience normalisation of their endocrinopathy or visual fields with surgery. Of the adenomas with normal preoperative endocrine function, 92.0% (126/137) maintained this postoperatively; only 2 of the 11 patients with new hypopituitarism required long-term hormone replacement. Functional tumour cure was achieved in 65.2% (86/116) after surgery; 74.4% (32/43) of acromegalics and 70.0 (35/50) of Cushing's disease patients achieved hormonal control. All patients with isolated hyperprolactinaemia from stalk effect normalised with surgery, while only 15.9% (7/44) with hypopituitarism recovered normal endocrine function. New hypopituitarism was predicted by younger age and functional adenoma, particularly Cushing's disease. Resolution of endocrinopathy was less likely with reoperative cases and those with cavernous sinus invasion (Knosp grade > 2) or preoperative ophthalmoplegia. One-third of the cohort (102/304, 33.6%) had a preoperative field cut, most commonly an incomplete (51.0%) or complete (31.4%) bitemporal hemianopsia. Only two patients (2/304, 0.7%) had visual field worsening after surgery, while 71.6% (73/102) experienced partial or complete resolution of their field cut after surgery. Complete resolution of visual field defect was predicted by younger age and incomplete bitemporal hemianopsia. Surgery is a safe and effective therapy for pituitary adenomas. Nearly all patients experience improvement in visual fields, especially the young and those with incomplete bitemporal defects. Reoperative cases and those with cavernous sinus involvement (high Knosp grade/ophthalmoplegia) are less likely to have resolution of endocrinopathy. Visual worsening, new ophthalmoplegia or endocrinopathy were rare complications of surgery.