Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Effect of surgical treatment on prognosis in preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus
Yun-Feng Liu1, Chun-Ling Huang1, Xiao-Mei Tong1
1Department of Pediatrics, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China.
Insights
Surgical intervention improves survival rates for preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus. It also enhances neurodevelopmental outcomes for those with severe intracranial hemorrhage.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Obstructive hydrocephalus is a serious condition in preterm infants.
- Causes include severe intracranial hemorrhage and central nervous system infections.
- Prognosis for affected infants is often poor without effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of surgical treatment on the prognosis of preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus.
- To compare outcomes between surgical and conservative management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 49 preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus.
- Group division: surgical treatment (n=12) vs. conservative treatment (n=37).
- Analysis of drainage methods, complications, shunt outcomes, etiology, and prognosis.
Main Results:
- Severe intracranial hemorrhage (76%) and CNS infection (20%) were primary causes.
- Surgical group showed significantly higher survival rates (P<0.05).
- Surgical treatment led to better neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants with severe intracranial hemorrhage (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- Surgical treatment improves survival rates in preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus.
- Surgical intervention positively impacts the prognosis for preterm infants experiencing severe intracranial hemorrhage.
Objectives:
To study the effect of surgical treatment on prognosis in preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed on the medical data of 49 preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus. According to the treatment regimen, they were divided into two groups: surgical treatment (n=12) and conservative treatment (n=37). The drainage methods, drainage complications, and eventual shunt outcome were analyzed in the surgical treatment group. The two groups were compared in terms of the etiology of hydrocephalus and prognosis.
Results:
Among the 49 preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus, severe intracranial hemorrhage (37 cases; 76%) and central nervous system infection (10 cases, 20%) were the main causes of hydrocephalus. There was no significant difference in the composition of etiology between the two groups (P>0.05). In the surgical treatment group, 4 infants were treated with ventriculosubgaleal shunt and 8 were treated with Ommaya reservoir. One infant had secondary infection and 8 infants eventually underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The surgical treatment group had a significantly higher survival rate than the conservative treatment group (P<0.05). As for the 37 preterm infants with severe intracranial hemorrhage, the surgical treatment group had a significantly higher proportion of infants with normal neurodevelopment than the conservative treatment group (P<0.05). As for the 10 preterm infants with central nervous system infection, neurodevelopmental abnormalities were observed in each of the two groups.
Conclusions:
Surgical treatment can improve the survival rate of preterm infants with obstructive hydrocephalus and the prognosis of preterm infants with severe intracranial hemorrhage.
