Neurosurg Focus
-
OBJECTIVE Despite significant advances in the medical field and shunt technology, shunt malfunction remains a nightmare of pediatric neurosurgeons. In this setting, the ability to preoperatively predict the probability of shunt malfunction is quite compelling. The authors have compared the preoperative radiological findings in obstructive hydrocephalus and the subsequent clinical course of the patient to determine any association with overall shunt outcome. ⋯ CONCLUSIONS Preoperative radiological linear indices and ratios do not predict the likelihood of subsequent shunt malfunction. However, patients who required early shunt revision tended to have greater reductions in ventricular volumes on postoperative images. Therefore a greater reduction in ventricular volume is not actually desirable, and a ventricular volume high enough to reduce intracranial pressure is instead to be aimed at for long-term shunt compliance.
-
Case Reports
Chiari-related hydrocephalus: assessment of clinical risk factors in a cohort of 297 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE Patients treated for Chiari I malformation (CM-I) with posterior fossa decompression (PFD) may occasionally and unpredictably develop postoperative hydrocephalus. The clinical risk factors predictive of this type of Chiari-related hydrocephalus (CRH) are unknown. The authors' objective was to evaluate their experience to identify risk factors that may predict which of these patients undergoing PFD will develop CRH after surgery. ⋯ On multivariable analysis, age < 6 years old (OR 3.342, 95% CI 1.282-8.713), higher intraoperative blood loss (OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.001-1.006), and the presence of a fourth ventricular web (OR 3.752, 95% CI 1.306-10.783) were significantly associated with the need for long-term CSF diversion after decompressive surgery. CONCLUSIONS Younger patients, those with extensive intraoperative blood loss, and those found during surgery to have a fourth ventricular web were at higher risk for the development of CRH. Clinicians should be alert to evidence of CRH in this patient population after PFD surgery.