Endoscopy in the treatment of slit ventricle syndrome

The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy of endoscopy in the treatment of post-shunt placement for slit ventricle syndrome (SVS). Endoscopic surgery was performed on 18 patients with SVS between October 2004 and December 2012. Sex, age, causes of the hydrocephalus, ventricular size and imaging data were collected and analyzed. All patients were divided into two groups according to ventricular size and underwent endoscopic surgeries, including endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), endoscopic aqueductoplasty and cystocisternostomy. All treated patients were observed postoperatively for a period of 2 to 3 weeks, and outpatient follow-up was subsequently scheduled for >12 months. Clinical results, including catheter adherence, shunt removal and complications, were analyzed during the follow-up period. The success rate of endoscopic surgery was indicated to be 82.7%. Syndromes caused by aqueductal stenosis in 15 patients who underwent ETV were relieved; however, syndromes in the 3 patients with cerebral cysticercosis, suprasellar arachnoid cysts, pinea larea glioma and communicating hydrocephalus, respectively, were not relieved and underwent shunt placement again. Brain parenchyma, choroid plexus and ependymal tissue were the predominant causes for catheter obstruction and the obstruction rate was indicated to be 77.8% (14/18). Complications, such as pseudobulbar paralysis, infection and intraventricular hemorrhage arose in 3 patients. The present study indicates that endoscopic treatments are effective and ETV may be considered as a recommended option in the treatment of post-shunt placement SVS in hydrocephalus patients.