Health-related Quality of Life in Children with Congenital Hydrocephalus and the Parental Concern: An Analysis in a Developing Nation

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.

The Effect of Multiple Surgeries on Psychosocial Outcomes in Pediatric Patients: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Birth defects affect 3% of all babies born in the United States each year. Unlike reconstruction for many acquired deformities, one hallmark of reconstruction for complex congenital conditions is the requirement of multiple surgeries, procedures, and therapies from birth to maturity. These interventions often result in significant medical burden on children during development with potential long-term psychosocial consequences. The aim of this study was therefore to better define the psychosocial impact of repetitive operations on the pediatric patient.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review guidelines. We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, and Web of Science databases using key words "number of surgeries," "psychosocial," "pediatric," and related terms. Primary articles published in English describing psychosocial outcomes in pediatric patients who underwent more than one procedure or surgery were included (n = 25). The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of each study.

RESULTS

We included 25 articles published between 1995 and 2019, which included 6520 patients. The most common diagnosis across all studies was congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 4169, 63.9%), followed by cleft lip and palate (n = 1196, 18.3%). The average number of operations and procedures was 3.4 (range = 1-18) and 32.1 (range = 6-89), respectively. The association between repetitive surgeries and poorer psychosocial outcomes was demonstrated in children with early-onset scoliosis, CHD, hydrocephalus, bladder exstrophy, posterior urethral rupture, anorectal anomalies, and conditions requiring numerous nonsurgical procedures. There were also a few CHD, cleft lip and/or palate, and hydrocephalus studies that did not find a significant correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

The studies here suggest that certain pediatric patient populations are at risk for impaired psychosocial functioning as a result of repetitive procedures. However, it is important to differentiate whether the association with poorer psychosocial outcomes is from the number of surgical procedures or whether the number if just a surrogate for increased disease complexity. Standardized psychosocial outcomes measures and future prospective, long-term, randomized clinical trials are also warranted.