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[Congenital hydrocephalus. A multicenter retrospective longitudinal study of newborn infants treated with shunts
1Chirurgische Universitäts-Kinderklinik, Inselspital, Bern.
Insights
This study evaluated 54 children with hydrocephalus who received shunts. The incidence of neonatal hydrocephalus remained stable during the study period, indicating no decrease in new cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Neurology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Hydrocephalus is a condition characterized by an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles.
- Shunt placement is a common surgical intervention for managing hydrocephalus in children.
- Understanding the long-term outcomes and incidence of hydrocephalus is crucial for pediatric care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a multicentric retrospective evaluation of children with hydrocephalus who underwent shunting.
- To analyze pregnancy, antenatal diagnostics, parturition, and preoperative/intraoperative findings.
- To assess long-term follow-up and prognosis in shunted pediatric hydrocephalus patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 54 children born between 1976 and 1985 diagnosed with hydrocephalus and shunted.
- Inclusion of data on pregnancy, delivery, preoperative assessments, intraoperative findings, and long-term follow-up.
- Evaluation of the prognosis for 45 surviving patients as of May 1987.
Main Results:
- Neonatal hydrocephalus accounted for 11% of all shunted children in the participating hospitals.
- The incidence of new hydrocephalus cases did not show a decrease during the study period (1976-1985).
- Detailed analysis covered pregnancy, delivery, surgical interventions, and patient outcomes.
Conclusions:
- The study provides insights into the management and outcomes of pediatric hydrocephalus treated with shunts.
- The incidence of neonatal hydrocephalus remained consistent, highlighting the ongoing need for effective interventions.
- Long-term follow-up data is essential for understanding the prognosis of children with hydrocephalus.
Abstract:
A multicentric retrospective evaluation of 54 children was performed who were born between 1976 and 1985 with a clinically recognisable hydrocephalus and thereafter shunted. The 4 topics of the study included: 1) Analysis of pregnancy, antenatal diagnostic procedures and parturition, 2) Preoperative evaluation and intraoperative findings, 3) Long-term follow-up and 4) Prognosis (actual status) of the 45 surviving patients at the end of the study (May 1987). Patients with neonatal hydrocephalus were observed in 11% of all children shunted during the same time in the hospitals included in this study. During this period the incidence of new cases did not decrease.