Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026
Minimally Invasive Thumb-sized Pterional Craniotomy for Surgical Clip Ligation of Unruptured Anterior Circulation Aneurysms
Published on: August 11, 2015
Endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation in infants with hydranencephaly or hydrocephalus with a minimal cortical mantle
David I Sandberg1, Parthasarathi Chamiraju, Garrett Zoeller
1Division of Neurological Surgery, Departments of Pediatric Surgery and Neurosurgery, University of Texas-Houston, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, and Mischer Neuroscience Institute, Houston, Tex. 77030, USA. David.I.Sandberg@uth.tmc.edu
Background/Aims:
This study evaluates endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation, in conjunction with third ventriculostomy when technically feasible, as a strategy to treat patients with hydranencephaly or hydrocephalus with a minimal cortical mantle.
Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed patients with hydranencephaly (n = 4) or hydrocephalus with the cortical mantle <1 cm in maximal thickness (n = 4) who underwent endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation from 2007 to 2010. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed simultaneously when technically feasible (in 3 of 8 patients). Endoscopic management was considered successful if a shunt was not subsequently required.
Results:
Endoscopic management was successful in 4 of 8 patients (50%) who did not require a shunt over a median follow-up period of 15 months (range 2.5-24). Four patients (50%) failed endoscopic management and required a shunt 1 month to 11 weeks after endoscopic surgery. One patient died 4 days after shunt placement due to pneumonia and renal failure. Three of 4 patients who had a successful endoscopic procedure ultimately died of causes that were likely unrelated to hydrocephalus (pneumonia in 2 patients and sudden infant death syndrome in 1 patient). Besides failure to control hydrocephalus adequately in 4 patients, there were no additional complications noted after endoscopic surgeries.
Conclusion:
Endoscopic choroid plexus coagulation can enable some infants with hydranencephaly or massive hydrocephalus to avoid a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
