World Neurosurg
-
Review Meta Analysis Historical Article
A history of ventricular neuroendoscopy.
To describe the history of neuroendoscopy through the history of the major neurosurgeons who worked and published in the field. ⋯ An historical review of ventricular neuroendoscopy remains by essence incomplete. Medical technical progress proceeds by leaps and bounds, related to the ingenuity of surgeons able to understand rapidly the value of a technical change to improve their surgical procedure. The ability to remain attentive to patients and evolving pathologies as well as the evolution of modern technology is required to make further progress in neuroendoscopy.
-
The treatment of choice for several types of obstructive hydrocephalus is endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). However, in certain cases ETV is not clearly superior to shunt placement, and a question of choice arises. Apart from the possibility of success in each case, knowledge of complication rates is of major importance as well. ⋯ The complication rate of ETV is low, and rarely is a reason for choosing shunt placement instead. However, as a method it requires considerable experience, and several studies report a relation of experience not only with success rates but also with complication avoidance.