Comparison of Different Endoscopic Techniques for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus in Children

To present a series of hydrocephalus cases treated with different endoscopic techniques, and to compare their surgical outcomes.

Sixty-one patients underwent endoscopic approach for treating hydrocephalus over a 5-year period. Forty-six patients were children. Three surgical techniques [i.e., endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), ETV plus shunting, and simultaneous ETV plus aqueductoplasty] were used in these patients. Surgical results were statistically analyzed based on age, gender, and type of surgery.

Of the 46 children, 24 (52.17%) were female with a mean age of 25.33 months. Twenty-one (45.65%) children underwent ETV alone, 19 underwent ETV plus ventriculoperitoneal shunting, and six underwent simultaneous ETV plus aqueductoplasty. Five (10.87%) children died during the follow-up period. No correlation was observed between surgery type and patient age. No statistically significant differences in sex and complications were found between the surgical techniques.

ETV alone is the safest method for treating hydrocephalus in children. Mortality is higher in patients younger than 12 months who underwent combined surgical methods, instead of ETV alone.