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First experiences with an adjustable gravitational valve in childhood hydrocephalus

Veit Rohde1, Ernst-Johannes Haberl, Hans Ludwig

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, Georg-August University, Goettingen, Germany. veit.rohde@med.uni-goettingen.de

Journal of Neurosurgery. Pediatrics
|March 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

The ProGAV adjustable gravity-assisted valve (GAV) shows promising results for treating childhood hydrocephalus, with an 88.7% success rate in initial pediatric cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Medical Device Technology

Background:

  • Hydrocephalus is a common neurological condition in children.
  • Shunt placement is a primary treatment for hydrocephalus.
  • Adjustable valves offer potential benefits for managing shunt function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the initial clinical experience with the ProGAV.
  • To assess the safety and efficacy of the ProGAV in pediatric hydrocephalus patients.

Main Methods:

  • The ProGAV was implanted in 53 children with various hydrocephalus origins.
  • The ProGAV features adjustable opening pressures and a gravitational unit.
  • Follow-up averaged 15.2 months, with pressure adjustments made in 19 children.

Main Results:

  • No valve-related complications were observed.
  • Four infections (7.5%) required shunt removal.
  • Good clinical results were achieved in 88.7% of cases, with significant improvement after pressure adjustments.

Conclusions:

  • The ProGAV demonstrates promising outcomes in treating childhood hydrocephalus.
  • The adjustable nature of the ProGAV allows for effective management of shunt function.
  • Further use of the ProGAV in pediatric populations is warranted.
Abstract

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