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Eur J Pediatr Surg 2009; 19(4): 216-219
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1202282
Original Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hydrocephalus in Infants Less than Six Months of Age: Effectiveness of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

R. Faggin1 , A. Bernardo2 , P. Stieg2 , G. Perilongo1 , D. d’Avella1
  • 1Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
  • 2Department of Neurological Surgery, NYC, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, United States
Further Information

Publication History

received August 6, 2008

accepted after revision January 6, 2009

Publication Date:
03 April 2009 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: Although endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a well established procedure for the treatment of congenital and acquired hydrocephalus, there is still a controversy with regard to the higher risk of failure in younger infants compared to older children after such a procedure. The aim of this article is to define the effectiveness of third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus in infants less than 6 months of age better and to determine possible positive predictive factors.

Materials and Methods:In a series of 126 consecutive patients who underwent ETV between January 2000 and December 2002, 21 procedures were performed on infants ranging in age from 23 to 180 days, and without a previous history of shunting. The follow-up period was 49 to 82 months.

Results: The overall success rate of ETV was 67% (14/21). All failures occurred in the early postoperative period (average 38 days, range 25–88 days). The success rate varied with the etiology of the patient's hydrocephalus. The best results were obtained in patients with acqueductal stenosis, Dandy-Walker malformation and myelomeningocele. The least favorable results (50% failure rate) occurred in infants treated for post-hemorrhagic and post-meningitic hydrocephalus.

Conclusion: This study does not demonstrate a correlation between the age of the infants and the ETV success rate. The specific etiology of hydrocephalus is the most relevant prognostic factor in infants under six months of age.

Key words

third ventricle anatomy - endoscopic third ventriculostomy - hydrocephalus

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Correspondence

Dr. R. FagginMD 

Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery

University of Padua

via Giustiniani n 2

35128 Padova

Italy

Phone: +39/049 821 80 36

Fax: +39/049/821 17 81

Email: rfaggin@yahoo.it