Related Experiment Videos
Outlook for the child with a cephalocele
M S Brown1, M Sheridan-Pereira
1Department of Perinatology, Children's Hospital, Denver, CO.
Insights
Outcomes for infants with cephalocele depend on defect location and additional congenital abnormalities. Mortality was 29%, primarily in posterior defects, with seizures and hydrocephalus indicating poorer prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neonatal Neurology
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Cephalocele outcomes are challenging to ascertain.
- Updated data is needed for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide updated outcome data for infants with cephalocele.
- To identify key prognostic factors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 34 infants with cephalocele.
- Comparison with previously published outcome series.
Main Results:
- Overall mortality was 29%, exclusively in posterior cephalocele cases.
- Nearly half of infants had additional major congenital abnormalities, impacting prognosis.
- Seizures and hydrocephalus were common in infants with poor outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Operability and presence of additional abnormalities are primary prognostic indicators.
- Intracranial and extracranial abnormalities significantly affect cephalocele prognosis.
- Updated outcome data aids in managing infants with cephalocele.
Abstract:
Specific information on the outcome for a child with a cephalocele can be difficult to find and interpret. To update outcome information for the child with a cephalocele, the investigators compared outcome of 34 infants from their institution with that of those in previously published series. For the infants from the investigators' institution, overall mortality was 29% and was confined to infants with posterior defects, which was consistent with other published series. Additional major congenital abnormalities were present in nearly half the infants, and these were an important factor in contributing to a poorer prognosis as well as whether the defect could be operatively reduced. Seizures and hydrocephalus were often secondary problems in those infants who did worse. In addressing outlook for the infant with the cephalocele, primary factors to be considered are operability and the presence of additional major abnormalities, both intracranial and extracranial.