[Lumboperitoneal shunt and normal pressure hydrocephalus in elderly subjects]

Forty six patients who had normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) and who presented 2 or more of the 5 following preoperative signs: dementia with gait disturbances and urinary incontinence, gait disturbance as first sign, known etiology, positive lumbar puncture withdrawal test, presence of periventricular hypodensity on CT and absence of visible cerebral sulci, were treated by lumboperitoneal shunt. Postoperative results were evaluated at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year with 60.6 p. 100 of good results. Complications of LP shunts (26 p. 100) were mild and did not compromise the outcome. We emphasize the necessity of clinical selecting criteria before surgery and the value of LP shunt in the treatment of NPH.