Feasibility of B-Ultrasound-Assisted Shunting for Hydrocephalus Patients with Skull Defect Versus Traditional...

Hydrocephalus combined with a skull defect is a common clinical condition in neurosurgery. It often occurs secondary to decompressive craniectomy after severe craniocerebral injury or cerebral hemorrhage. For such patients, due to the concurrent presence of a skull defect, the puncture and localization of conventional ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery are somewhat difficult, and the risk of complications is relatively high. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided ventriculoperitoneal shunting in patients with hydrocephalus associated with skull defects. This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 48 patients with hydrocephalus. Among them, 24 patients had combined skull defects. The observation group underwent ultrasound-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS), whereas the control group underwent traditional VPS. The study compared the success rate of a single puncture during the operation, the operation time, the clinical improvement 2 months after the operation, and the incidence of complications. The results showed that, compared with traditional ventriculoperitoneal shunting, B-ultrasound-assisted shunting provided real-time assessment. It not only causes less trauma and significantly improves puncture accuracy during the operation but also does not prolong the operation time. Moreover, it can allow real-time visualization of the catheter trajectory in patients with skull defects and postoperative hydrocephalus. The complication and efficacy rates of this method did not differ significantly between groups; the numerical differences warrant confirmation in larger prospective studies, improve the reliability of intraoperative operations, and have significant clinical promotion value in treating such patients.