• T Esmonde and S Cooke.
• Dept of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Dept of Neurology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK, BT12 6BA. tesmonde@breathemail.net
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2002 Jan 1 (3): CD003157.

BackgroundSince the condition was first described in 1965, the syndrome of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) has conventionally been managed by placement of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt.ObjectivesTo determine the effectiveness of shunting procedures in promoting stability or improvement in the neurological symptoms and signs of NPH.Search StrategyThe trials were identified from a search of the Specialized Register of the Cochrane Dementia and Cognitive Improvement Group on 26 June 2001 using the terms 'shunt*' and 'normal pressure hydrocephalus'.Selection CriteriaStudies included for analysis were those involving the placement of a CSF shunt for the treatment of NPH as part of a randomized controlled trial.Data Collection And AnalysisNo data matching the selection criteria were found.Main ResultsNo randomized controlled trials of shunt placement versus no shunt were found.Reviewer's ConclusionsThere is no evidence to indicate whether placement of a shunt is effective in the management of NPH.

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