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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Is the success rate of endoscopic third ventriculostomy age-dependent? An analysis of the results of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in young children.

INTRODUCTION: Different opinions exist in the literature about the effectiveness of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in young children. Therefore we made a retrospective evaluation of our own success rates of performing ETVs in children less than 2 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a series of 275 ETVs 66 procedures were performed in children less than 2 years of age. RESULTS: The overall success rate in this young age group was 53%, lower than the success rates of ETVs reported in literature (72-92%). But further analysis of these results and a comparison of the results in subgroups with different etiologies of the hydrocephalus showed that the success rates varied between 20 and 88%. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the success of ETV depends mainly on the etiology of the hydrocephalus and not on the age of the patient alone.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

Preoperative ventriculostomy and rebleeding after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECT: Despite the widespread use of ventriculostomy in the treatment of acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), there is no consensus regarding the risk of rebleeding associated with ventriculostomy before aneurysm repair. This present study was conducted to assess the risk of rebleeding after preoperative ventriculostomy in patients with aneurysmal SAH. METHODS: The authors reviewed the records of all patients with acute SAH who were treated at a single institution between 1990 and 1997. Thus, the records of 304 consecutive patients in whom an aneurysmal SAH source was documented on angiographic studies and who had presented to the authors' institution within 7 days of ictus were analyzed. Re-bleeding was confirmed by evidence of recurrent hemorrhage on computerized tomography scans in all cases. Forty-five patients underwent ventriculostomy for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal SAH at least 24 hours before aneurysm repair. Ventriculostomy was performed within 24 hours of SAH in 38 patients, within 24 to 48 hours in three patients, and more than 48 hours after SAH in four patients. The mean time interval between SAH and surgery in patients who did not undergo ventriculostomy was no different from the mean interval between ventriculostomy and surgery in patients who underwent preoperative ventriculostomy (3.6 compared with 3.8 days, p = 0.81). Fourteen (5.4%) of the 259 patients who did not undergo ventriculostomy suffered preoperative aneurysm rebleeding, whereas two (4.4%) of the 45 patients who underwent preoperative ventriculostomy had aneurysm rebleeding. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found that preoperative ventriculostomy performed after aneurysmal SAH is associated with an increased risk of aneurysm rebleeding when early aneurysm surgery is performed.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Death after late failure of third ventriculostomy in children. Report of three cases.

Late failure following successful third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus is rare, and death caused by failure of a previously successful third ventriculostomy has been reported only once. The authors present three patients who died as a result of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) after late failure of a third ventriculostomy. Through a collaborative effort, three patients were identified who had died following third ventriculostomy at one of the authors' institutions. A 13-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis Type 1 underwent third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a tectal lesion. Three years later her condition deteriorated rapidly over the course of 6 hours and she was found dead at home. A 4-year-old boy treated with third ventriculostomy for aqueductal stenosis presented 2 years postoperatively with symptoms of increased ICP. This patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while under observation and died despite external ventricular drainage. A 10-year-old boy with previous ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement underwent conversion to a third ventriculostomy and shunt removal. Eight months after the procedure his condition deteriorated. with evidence of raised ICP, and he underwent emergency insertion of another VP shunt, but remained in a vegetative state and died of complications. Neuropathological examinations in two cases demonstrated that the third ventriculostomy was not patent, and there was also evidence of increased ICP. Late failure of third ventriculostomy resulting in death is a rare complication. Delay in recognition of recurrent ICP symptoms and a false feeling of security on the part of family and caregivers because of the absence of a shunt and the belief that the hydrocephalus has been cured may contribute to fatal complications after third ventriculostomy. Patients with third ventriculostomies should be followed in a manner similar to patients with cerebrospinal fluid shunts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

The initial treatment of hydrocephalus: an assessment of surgeons' preference between third ventriculostomy and shunt insertion.

Third ventriculostomy is an option for patients who have traditionally received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. This study has been conducted to determine: 1. How common is third ventriculostomy as the initial treatment of hydrocephalus? 2. Does the frequency of third ventriculostomy vary among surgeons? 3. What factors influence surgeons' decision to choose third ventriculostomy? Surgeons completed a questionnaire addressing patient selection and technique factors. Nine case scenarios were reviewed by surgeons who were then asked to choose a ventriculoperitoneal shunt or a third ventriculostomy as the initial treatment. Forty-three responses were received. The proportion of new patients treated with third ventriculostomy varied widely (0%-100%, median 13%). This was not related to years in practice, type of training or presence of residents/fellows. Factors that increased the chance of a third ventriculostomy were triventricular hydrocephalus on CT/MR, isolated aqueduct stenosis, thin ballooned floor and tectal tumor. Factors that decreased the chance of a third ventriculostomy were dilated subarachnoid spaces, meningitis and head injury. The presence of myelomeningocele or age < 1 year were less likely to influence the choice of operation. Variation in the rate of third ventriculostomy as the first treatment for hydrocephalus is large. It is unlikely that this degree of variation can be explained by differences in patient populations. Further work to refine and disseminate the indications for third ventriculostomy is warranted.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed2001

Management of hydrocephalus in pediatric patients with posterior fossa tumors: the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

OBJECT: The authors undertook a study to evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of hydrocephalus before and after surgical intervention for posterior fossa tumors in children. METHODS: Between October 1, 1993, and December 31, 1997, a total of 206 consecutive children with posterior fossa tumors underwent surgery at Hĵpital Necker-Enfants Malades in Paris. Excluded were 10 patients in whom shunts had been placed at the referring hospital. The medical records and neuroimaging studies of the remaining 196 patients were reviewed and categorized into three groups: Group A, 67 patients with hydrocephalus present on admission in whom endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed prior to tumor removal; Group B, 82 patients with hydrocephalus who did not undergo preliminary third ventriculostomy but instead received conventional treatment; and Group C, 47 patients in whom no ventricular dilation was present on admission. There were no significant differences between patients in Group A or B with respect to the following variables: age at presentation, evidence of metastatic disease, extent of tumor resection, or follow-up duration. In patients in Group A, however, more severe hydrocephalus was demonstrated (p < 0.01): the patients in Group C were in this respect different from those in the other two groups. Ultimately, there were only four patients (6%) in Group A compared with 22 patients (26.8%) in Group B (p = 0.001) in whom progressive hydrocephalus required treatment following removal of the posterior fossa tumor. Sixteen patients (20%) in Group B underwent insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which is similar to the incidence reported in the literature and significantly different from that demonstrated in Group A (p < 0.016). The other six patients (7.3%) were treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy after tumor resection. In Group C, two patients (4.3%) with postoperative hydrocephalus underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy. In three patients who required placement of CSF shunts several episodes of shunt malfunction occurred that were ultimately managed by endoscopic third ventriculostomy and definitive removal of the shunt. There were no deaths; however, there were four cases of transient morbidity associated with third ventriculostomy. CONCLUSIONS: Third ventriculostomy is feasible even in the presence of posterior fossa tumors (including brainstem tumors). When performed prior to posterior fossa surgery, it significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative hydrocephalus. The procedure provides a valid alternative to placement of a permanent shunt in cases in which hydrocephalus develops following posterior fossa surgery, and it may negate the need for the shunt in cases in which the shunt malfunctions. Furthermore, in patients in whom CSF has caused spread of the tumor at presentation, third ventriculostomy allows chemotherapy to be undertaken prior to tumor excision by controlling hydrocephalus. Although the authors acknowledge that the routine application of third ventriculostomy in selected patients results in a proportion of patients undergoing an "unnecessary" procedure, they believe that because patients' postoperative courses are less complicated and because the incidence of morbidity is low and the success rate is high in those patients with severe hydrocephalus that further investigation of this protocol is warranted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy. A practical alternative to extracranial shunts in non-communicating hydrocephalus.

The outcomes in 103 patients who have undergone third ventriculostomy for non-communicating hydrocephalus at our institution form 1978-1994 have been analysed. The group has been sub-divided by age, cause of hydrocephalus and whether the third ventriculostomy was the initial definitive procedure or whether progression of their hydrocephalus had been arrested for a long time (usually years) by an extracranial shunt prior to third ventriculostomy. At the time of shunt malfunction (usually blockage) a third ventriculostomy was performed if the anatomy was, or could be made suitable for the safe performance of the procedure. Third ventriculostomy under the age of 6 months was successful in only 8 of 25 patients. Seventeen patients in whom the onset of hydrocephalus was under the age of six months and the ventriculostomy was performed between 6 months and 18 years, 8 were successful. Sixteen of these had had previous long term shunts. In 40 patients in whom the onset of hydrocephalus was over the age of 6 months and the ventriculostomy performed after the age of 19 years, 32 were successful. In 28 patients over the age of 20 years, 13 had previously been shunted and in 8 of these the procedure was successful. In 15 patients not previously shunted, 9 ventriculostomies were successful. Three failed, 2 died before evaluation could be done and one was lost to follow-up. There were no deaths caused by the procedure. Two patients suffered from a hemiparesis, (1 transient) 1 patient suffered mid-brain damage. There were 2 subdural effusions. Two patients had infections, 1 superficial and 1 a ventriculitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Percutaneous ventriculostomy--evolution of a device.

The technique applied for external ventriculostomy should allow simple, fast, stable and clean performance of this procedure. The stepwise development of a metallic ventriculostomy kit should help overcome shortcomings of traditional methods of external ventriculostomy such as catheter obstruction and propensity for infection. A rigid ventriculostomy set for precoronary puncture was developed, consisting of a screw with selfbiting conical thread and a cannula with distal holes for CSF drainage. The rate of infection was < 2% in nonseptic patients with a mean duration of the ventriculostomy of 11 days (maximum: 2 months). Hemorrhage occurred in 1% of patients. Problems were secondary wound healing after prolonged periods with ventriculostomy in place and rapid CSF-infection in cases of loosened screws which were not instantly removed. Ventriculostomy can be performed bedside within 5 min and clotted cannulas can be exchanged via the indwelling screw. The system can be resterilized and the titanium device is MRI-compatible. The method tested compares favorably with conventional techniques of external ventriculostomy. Use of the system requires continuous education of the personnel involved in order to avoid complications such as hemorrhage and loosening of the screw.

Bone Screws↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Functional analysis of third ventriculostomy patency by quantification of CSF stroke volume by using cine phase-contrast MR imaging.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is increasingly used as alternative treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to determine the utility of quantitative and qualitative examinations with cine phase-contrast MR imaging to determine the efficacy of ventriculostomy across time and whether CSF pulsation is restored after ETV. METHODS: Thirty-eight patients treated with ETV were evaluated with cine phase-contrast MR within 1 month after surgery. Follow-up studies were performed after 1 year in 25 patients and after 2 years in 12. We evaluated flow void changes in the floor of the third ventricle and quantified the stroke volume at the site of the ventriculostomy. We also recorded changes in ventricular size and clinical outcome. To determine the restoration of CSF pulsation, we compared the CSF waveform at the ventriculostomy with the CSF waveform at the aqueduct in a healthy control group. RESULTS: After ventriculostomy, restoration of pulsate motion characteristics of CSF circulation was observed. The stroke volume registered at ventriculostomy was maintained with time. There was a statistically significant relationship between clinical outcome and stroke volume. Overall flow magnitude was the most effective variable to determine which patients would improve after surgery. Values >75 mm3 showed a sensitivity of 76.7% and a specificity of 87.5% There was no relationship between ventricular size changes and clinical outcome. Patients with primary aqueduct stenosis had the best response to surgery, whereas patients with Arnold Chiari malformation or communicating hydrocephalus had the worst response. CONCLUSION: Quantitative analysis with phase-contrast MR imaging indicates that ETV is an efficient technique for restoring CSF pulsation, with efficacy being maintained during the follow-up controls. Quantification of stroke volume at ventriculostomy is a good indicator of the functional status of ETV, and a high stroke volume in the ventriculostomy appears to be a positive predictor of favorable clinical outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Re-ventriculostomy for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus in cases of stoma dysfunction.

In this article, 12 re-ventriculostomies in the treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus are described. The etiology of the hydrocephalus was a benign aqueductal stenosis in 9 patients, a tumor around the aqueduct in 2 patients and intraventricular bleeding in one patient. In all cases the initial ventriculostomy was successful, but after a time interval of 2 weeks to 6 years the patients developed similar clinical symptoms as preoperatively. In all except one case the radiological findings spoke in favour of stoma closure. Intraoperatively the stoma was completely closed in 9 patients and in 3 patients a subtotal closure was observed. In all cases a re-ventriculostomy was performed bluntly with a Fogarty catheter in loco typico at the floor of the third ventricle. Of the 12 patients 6 had an excellent outcome postoperatively, one patient improved and one had a benefit from the re-ventriculostomy although he died of cardiac problems. In the remaining 4 patients the re-ventriculostomy was not successful and the patients needed a shunt operation. In conclusion, after initially successful endoscopic third ventriculostomy, re-ventriculostomy should be considered as a sufficient treatment option in case of suspected stoma dysfunction.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Percutaneous computed tomographic-controlled ventriculostomy in severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous computed tomographic (CT)-controlled ventriculostomy (PCV) was introduced for the monitoring of intracranial pressure in patients with severe traumatic brain injury who did not require simultaneous decompressive trepanation. METHODS: PCV (n = 14) was compared with conventional burr hole ventriculostomy (n = 13) based on prospectively collected data. RESULTS: PCV proved to be a successful technique in all cases and also when a burr hole ventriculostomy was impossible previously. There were no complications. In burr hole ventriculostomy, there were one unsuccessful insertion and one catheter contamination. The main advantage of PCV over burr hole ventriculostomy was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the time required to perform the procedure. In ventriculostomy directly after the initial evaluation in the emergency department, the operation time was reduced from 45 +/- 11 to 22 +/- 14 minutes. The interval between cranial computed tomography and start of operation was reduced from 78 +/- 38 to 33 +/- 12 minutes, and between initial cranial computed tomography and intensive care unit admittance, from 138 +/- 37 to 73 +/- 28 minutes. For patients requiring ventriculostomy while being treated in the intensive care unit, the duration of the procedure (i.e., absence from the intensive care unit) was able to be reduced from 111 +/- 24 to 81 +/- 21 minutes. CONCLUSION: Distinct time savings are the major advantages of PCV, allowing exact catheter positioning even with very narrow ventricles.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Ventriculostomy infections: the effect of monitoring duration and catheter exchange in 584 patients.

The investigators undertook a retrospective analysis of ventriculostomy infections to evaluate their relationship to monitoring duration and prophylactic catheter exchange. In 1984, the results of an epidemiological study of ventriculostomy-related infection were published. One of the conclusions of the paper was that the incidence of ventriculostomy-related infections rose after 5 days of monitoring. This led to the recommendation that catheters be prophylactically changed at 5-day intervals if prolonged monitoring was required. A recent randomized prospective study on central venous catheters showed no reduction in infection with prophylactic catheter exchanges. This has led the authors to reexamine their experience with ventriculostomy infections. Data on 584 severely head injured patients with ventriculostomies were prospectively collected in two data banks, The Traumatic Coma Data Bank and The Medical College of Virginia Neurocore Data Bank. These data were retrospectively analyzed for factors associated with ventriculostomy related infections. It was found that there is a relationship of ventriculitis to monitoring duration but it is not simple or linear. There is a rising risk of infection over the first 10 days, but infection then becomes very unlikely despite a population that continues to be at risk. Patients in whom catheters were replaced prior to 5 days did not have a lower infection rate than those whose catheters were exchanged at more than 5-day intervals. Based on these data, it is recommended that ventriculostomy catheters for intracranial pressure monitoring be removed as quickly as possible, and in circumstances in which prolonged monitoring is required, there appears to be no benefit from catheter exchange.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Failure of third ventriculostomy in the treatment of aqueductal stenosis in children.

OBJECT: The goal of this study was to analyze the types of failure and long-term efficacy of third ventriculostomy in children. METHODS: The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical data obtained in 213 children affected by obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus who were treated by third ventriculostomy between 1973 and 1997. There were 120 boys and 93 girls. The causes of the hydrocephalus included: aqueductal stenosis in 126 cases; toxoplasmosis in 23 cases, pineal, mesencephalic, or tectal tumor in 42 cases; and other causes in 22 cases. In 94 cases, the procedure was performed using ventriculographic guidance (Group I) and in 119 cases by using endoscopic guidance (Group II). In 19 cases (12 in Group I and seven in Group II) failure was related to the surgical technique. Three deaths related to the technique were observed in Group I. For the remaining patients, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a functioning third ventriculostomy rate of 72% at 6 years with a mean follow-up period of 45.5 months (range 4 days-17 years). No significant differences were found during long-term follow up between the two groups. In Group I, a significantly higher failure rate was seen in children younger than 6 months of age, but this difference was not observed in Group II. Thirty-eight patients required reoperation (21 in Group I and 17 in Group II) because of persistent or recurrent intracranial hypertension. In 29 patients shunt placement was necessary. In nine patients in whom there was radiologically confirmed obstruction of the stoma, the third ventriculostomy was repeated; this was successful in seven cases. Cine phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies were performed in 15 patients in Group I at least 10 years after they had undergone third ventriculostomy (range 10-17 years, median 14.3 years); this confirmed long-term patency of the stoma in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Third ventriculostomy effectively controls obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus in more than 70% of children and should be preferred to placement of extracranial cerebrospinal shunts in this group of patients. When performed using ventriculographic guidance, the technique has a higher mortality rate and a higher failure rate in children younger than 6 months of age and is, therefore, no longer preferred. When third ventriculostomy is performed using endoscopic guidance, the same long-term results are achieved in children younger than 6 months of age as in older children and, thus, patient age should no longer be considered as a contraindication to using the technique. Delayed failures are usually secondary to obstruction of the stoma and often can be managed by repeating the procedure. Midline sagittal T2-weighted MR imaging sequences combined with cine PC MR imaging flow measurements provide a reliable tool for diagnosis of aqueductal stenosis and for ascertaining the patency of the stoma during follow-up evaluation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

[Shunt operation versus endoscopic ventriculostomy in normal pressure hydrocephalus: diagnostics and outcome].

In contrast to shunt operation the indication for an endoscopic ventriculostomy in patients diagnosed for normal pressure hydrocephalus is not scientifically established. From September 1997 to October 2001 we operated on 79 patients diagnosed for normal pressure hydrocephalus. Diagnosis was established by means of the intrathecal lumbal or ventricular infusion test, the cerebrospinal fluid tap test and MRI-CSF flow studies pre- and post-operatively. In 60 patients (76 %) we implanted a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt (Miethke Dual-Switch valve), and in 15 patients (19 %) we performed the endoscopic assisted third ventriculostomy. With our created NPH recovery rate and use of the clinical grading for normal pressure hydrocephalus created by Kiefer we compared the operative results of both patient groups. Immediately after the operation the results are the same for both treatments. In the follow-up examination after 12 and 27 months patients who underwent a ventriculostomy showed a better outcome, but the underdrainage rate was higher. Concerning the operation related complications the shunt treatment leaded to 10 revisions (17 %) because of four infections (7 %), two shunt insufficiencies (3 %), two overdrainages (3 %), two catheter dislocations (3 %). The ventriculostomy leaded to one case with a pneumatocephalus (7 %) and one ischemic thalamic lesion (7 %). In both operation methods we saw cases of underdrainages, three after valve implantation (5 %) and two after ventriculostomy (13 %). In that patients we performed a change of the implanted valve with a lower pressure level or rather an implantation of a valve system in the two cases who underwent a ventriculostomy. In patients with a pathologically increased resistance to CSF outflow in the lumbal infusion test a shunt implantation with the Miethke Dual-Switch valve is indicated. Patients whose outflow resistance is increased in the ventricular infusion test are suspected for a functional interventricular stenosis and should be treated by means of an endoscopic assisted ventriculostomy.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed1999

Failure of third ventriculostomy in the treatment of aqueductal stenosis in children.

Object. The goal of this study was to analyze the types of failure and long-term efficacy of third ventriculostomy in children. Methods. The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical data obtained in 213 children affected by obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus who were treated by third ventriculostomy between 1973 and 1997. There were 120 boys and 93 girls. The causes of the hydrocephalus included: aqueductal stenosis in 126 cases; toxoplasmosis in 23 cases, pineal, mesencephalic, or tectal tumor in 42 cases; and other causes in 22 cases. In 94 cases, the procedure was performed using ventriculographic guidance (Group I) and in 119 cases by using endoscopic guidance (Group II). In 19 cases (12 in Group I and seven in Group II) failure was related to the surgical technique. Three deaths related to the technique were observed in Group I. For the remaining patients, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a functioning third ventriculostomy rate of 72% at 6 years with a mean follow-up period of 45.5 months (range 4 days-17 years). No significant differences were found during long-term follow up between the two groups. In Group I, a significantly higher failure rate was seen in children younger than 6 months of age, but this difference was not observed in Group II. Thirty-eight patients required reoperation (21 in Group I and 17 in Group II) because of persistent or recurrent intracranial hypertension. In 29 patients shunt placement was necessary. In nine patients in whom there was radiologically confirmed obstruction of the stoma, the third ventriculostomy was repeated; this was successful in seven cases. Cine phase-contrast (PC) magnetic resonance (MR) imaging studies were performed in 15 patients in Group I at least 10 years after they had undergone third ventriculostomy (range 10-17 years, median 14.3 years); this confirmed long-term patency of the stoma in all cases. Conclusions. Third ventriculostomy effectively controls obstructive triventricular hydrocephalus in more than 70% of children and should be preferred to placement of extracranial cerebrospinal shunts in this group of patients. When performed using ventriculographic guidance, the technique has a higher mortality rate and a higher failure rate in children younger than 6 months of age and is, therefore, no longer preferred. When third ventriculostomy is performed using endoscopic guidance, the same long-term results are achieved in children younger than 6 months of age as in older children and, thus, patient age should no longer be considered as a contraindication to using the technique. Delayed failures are usually secondary to obstruction of the stoma and often can be managed by repeating the procedure. Midline sagittal T2-weighted MR imaging sequences combined with cine PC MR imaging flow measurements provide a reliable tool for diagnosis of aqueductal stenosis and for ascertaining the patency of the stoma during follow-up evaluation.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Chronic subdural hematoma as a complication of endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become a popular alternative to ventricular shunts for noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Although endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a safe procedure, several complications related to this procedure have been reported in the literature. The authors present a rare case of symptomatic bilateral subdural hematomas after an uneventful endoscopic third ventriculostomy. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 51-year-old male patient presented with symptoms of obstructive hydrocephalus, headaches and memory disturbance. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal stenosis. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed. The patient was discharged home in several days without complication. He then presented with headaches 3 weeks following surgery. A computed tomography study demonstrated bilateral subdural hematomas. These were treated with burr hole evacuation and drainage. Postoperatively, his headaches improved. At last follow-up he remains symptom-free and has radiographic evidence of a patent ventriculostomy. CONCLUSION: This case confirms chronic subdural hematoma formation is a possible complication following third ventriculostomy. Patients should be followed closely for possible subdural hematoma formation.

Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic↗
PubMed2003

Successful aqueductal plasty and stenting for tectal plate tumor after failed third ventriculostomy: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Tectal region tumors can lead to hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal compression. Surgical options for these patients include extracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts, third ventriculostomy, and/or aqueductal plasty. In cases of third ventriculostomy failure, the accepted alternative is an extracranial CSF shunt. We report a patient in whom a repeat third ventriculostomy with aqueductal plasty and stenting was successful after a failed initial third ventriculostomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 12-year-old patient with hydrocephalus secondary to a tectal tumor presented with headaches and blurry vision. She had no focal neurologic findings. She underwent a third ventriculostomy. Five months after the procedure she had recurrence of her symptoms. Therefore, she underwent a secondary third ventriculostomy with aqueductal plasty and stenting. She has been symptom-free for 1 year. CONCLUSION: Aqueductal plasty with stenting may be an alternative to CSF shunts in some patients with hydrocephalus because of aqueductal compression resulting from tectal tumors.

Brain Neoplasms↗
PubMed2002

Intraoperative bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia in patients undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

During our initial experience with endoscopic third ventriculostomies, we observed intraoperative bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia. The present study was carried out to verify the consistency of these initial observations. Intraoperative heart rate (HR) changes and postoperative serum K + changes were studied prospectively in 20 patients of endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Another 6 patients who underwent endoscopic procedures other than ventriculostomy acted as controls. The anaesthetic technique and intraoperative and postoperative fluid regimen were similar in all patients. Serum K + concentrations were measured intraoperatively and once a day for the next 5 days. The third ventriculostomy group exhibited a significant slowing of the heart rate during the fenestration of the floor of the third ventricle (112 +/- 26 to 101 +/- 28 bpm, p < 0.001) and also at the time of the reversal of the neuromuscular block at the end of surgery (104 +/- 29 to 96 +/- 33 bpm, p < 0.01). The control group did not exhibit similar changes in the heart rate. The postoperative increase in serum K + values in the ventriculostomy group (0.82 +/- 0.55 mmol/L) was higher than that in the control group (0.10 +/- 0.44 mmol/L) (p < 0.01). Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is associated with a significant bradycardia at the time of fenestration and at the time of reversal of the neuromuscular block. The procedure is also associated with a postoperative increase in serum K + values. We propose a mechanism involving distortion of the posterior hypothalamus, which accounts for the bradycardia and postoperative hyperkalemia.

Adolescent↗