The surgical treatment of congenital hydrocephalus

The Authors discuss the incidence, the etiology, the pathology and the pathophysiology of congenital hydrocephalus. Furthermore, the problems of intrauterine surgical procedures are in particular discussed. On the light of the experimental and clinical results the Authors believe that the shunting fetal procedures should be considered anything but experimental and, therefore, subject to rigorous limitations. The results of the postnatal surgical procedures in congenital hydrocephalus are also discussed. Owing to the fact that early treatment of hydrocephalus in newborns seems to obtain the most satisfactory results, particular regard is reserved to that diagnostic techniques which could allow to recognize the right and early moment for surgical intervention, such as transfontanelle Doppler ultrasound examination.