Controversy about Management of Hydrocephalus - Shunt vs. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery for Hydrocephalus: One of the Common Neurosurgical Procedures and Its Related Problems

Objective This study was conducted to assess the outcome in patients with hydrocephalus who underwent ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. Methods This retrospective study was conducted at the neurosurgery department of a tertiary care hospital. The time frame was three years and five months from January 2017 to May 2020 with a follow-up of six months. Results This study included 1030 patients, out of whom 64.2% were male and 35.8% were female. While the majority of the patients were more than 11 years of age (466), age did not have any significant impact on the outcome of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. The most common cause of hydrocephalus was congenital (47.6%). A good outcome was seen in 63.4%, mortality was 10.6%, and complications were identified for 25.8%. The underlying pathology had a significant impact on the outcome in our study (p-value < 0.05) where the congenital cause of hydrocephalus showed a better outcome than any other cause. Conclusion Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a good way to manage hydrocephalus, but there is always a high risk of complications.

Long-standing overt ventriculomegaly in adulthood with primary presentation of psychiatric disturbance: A case report

RATIONALE

Hydrocephalus is a common disease in neurosurgery. The typical symptoms of hydrocephalus include urinary incontinence, gait instability, and cognitive decline. Irritability rarely occurs in patients with hydrocephalus. Irritability rarely occurs in patients with hydrocephalus, especially in long-standing overt ventriculomegaly of adulthood (LOVA).

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 30-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of mental retardation and unstable gait for more than 15 years. She had undergone ventriculoperitoneal shunt 15 years prior due to ventriculomegaly and related symptoms. However, the shunt catheter was removed shortly after surgery because of blockage, with no further postoperative treatment.

DIAGNOSIS

The patient was diagnosed with long-standing overt ventriculomegaly according to her head circumference and clinical symptoms, including adult hydrocephalus development, overt triventriculomegaly and absence of a secondary cause for aqueductal stenosis in adulthood.

INTERVENTIONS

After considerable discussion, she underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement and showed dramatic and sustained improvement.

OUTCOMES

The patient has been followed at 3-month intervals for over 2 years since discharge, and both the patient and family have reported a significant change in their daily life. She was able to live independently and control her emotions. Slight epilepsy was noted approximately 5 months after surgery but recovered 2 months later.

LESSONS

It is difficult to decide whether to treat LOVA when the in patients whose symptoms are not significant. We believe that early diagnosis and positive treatment can help improve outcomes and would recommend ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting in patients with LOVA.

[Placement of ventricle peritoneal shunt in the adult patient. A new protocol]

Introducción:

La colocación de un shunt ventrículo-peritoneal, a pesar de considerarse un procedimiento de baja complejidad, puede devenir en una serie de complicaciones. Nuestro equipo quirúrgico desarrolló e implementó a partir de junio de 2016 un nuevo protocolo. El objetivo del presente trabajo es: describir e ilustrar paso a paso la técnica quirúrgica utilizada y demostrar que el uso del “nuevo protocolo” disminuye significativamente las complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento.

Material y métodos:

Desde junio de 2014 a noviembre de 2017 se intervinieron 184 pacientes en relación a sistemas de derivación de LCR. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo que incluyó los pacientes con colocación primaria de shunt ventrículo-peritoneal (n=114). El seguimiento promedio fue de 14,2 meses (rango 6-38). Para el análisis estadístico se dividió a la muestra en 2 grupos: “protocolo previo” (n=59) y “nuevo protocolo” (n=55). Para describir la técnica quirúrgica se utilizó el archivo fotográfico y los partes quirúrgicos.

Resultados:

Se describió la técnica quirúrgica en 7 fases. La cantidad de pacientes con alguna complicación fue significativamente menor luego de implementar el “nuevo protocolo” (20% versus 39% respectivamente; p=0,04). En el grupo “nuevo protocolo” no se registró infección alguna asociada a shunt.

Conclusión:

Se presentó e ilustró, de manera clara y detallada, la técnica de colocación de shunt ventrículo-peritoneal en 7 fases. Esta técnica, junto a una serie de normas, constituyen un “nuevo protocolo”. La aplicación de éste disminuyó significativamente las complicaciones asociadas al procedimiento. La tasa de infección “cero” no es una utopía.