Article
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of hydrocephalus secondary to posterior fossa tumours in children
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Published: | May 13, 2014 |
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Objective: The purpose of the present study is to describe our experience with endoscopic third ventriculostomy in children with obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to posterior fossa tumours.
Method: Between January 2004 and January 2011, 72 children with posterior fossa tumour were treated. Fifty seven patients had symptomatic hydrocephalus. Third ventriculostomy was performed to relieve intracranial pressure in all cases as an urgent procedure after admission. The other 15 cases had no hydrocephalus or non symptomatic mild dilatation of ventricles. They were excluded from the study.
Results: Pre craniectomy endoscopic third ventriculostomy procedures were technically successful. 3 cases were complicated with infection. The procedure resolved the increased intracranial pressure before posterior fossa surgery in all cases. Four cases developed post-operative hydrocephalus and was treated by VP shunt insertion.
Conclusions: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a plausible choice for the emergency control of severe hydrocephalus caused by posterior fossa tumours; It can quickly eliminate symptoms, In addition, it eliminates the risks of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection related to external drainage, minimizes the risk of over drainage because it provides more physiological CSF drainage than the other procedures and avoid the complications of shunting procedures.