Death after late failure of third ventriculostomy in children

2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (1) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter J. Hader ◽  
James Drake ◽  
Douglas Cochrane ◽  
Owen Sparrow ◽  
Edward S. Johnson ◽  
...  

✓ Late failure following successful third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus is rare, and death caused by failure of a previously successful third ventriculostomy has been reported only once. The authors present three patients who died as a result of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) after late failure of a third ventriculostomy. Through a collaborative effort, three patients were identified who had died following third ventriculostomy at one of the authors' institutions. A 13-year-old girl with neurofibromatosis Type 1 underwent third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a tectal lesion. Three years later her condition deteriorated rapidly over the course of 6 hours and she was found dead at home. A 4-year-old boy treated with third ventriculostomy for aqueductal stenosis presented 2 years postoperatively with symptoms of increased ICP. This patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest while under observation and died despite external ventricular drainage. A 10-year-old boy with previous ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement underwent conversion to a third ventriculostomy and shunt removal. Eight months after the procedure his condition deteriorated, with evidence of raised ICP, and he underwent emergency insertion of another VP shunt, but remained in a vegetative state and died of complications. Neuropathological examinations in two cases demonstrated that the third ventriculostomy was not patent, and there was also evidence of increased ICP. Late failure of third ventriculostomy resulting in death is a rare complication. Delay in recognition of recurrent ICP symptoms and a false feeling of security on the part of family and caregivers because of the absence of a shunt and the belief that the hydrocephalus has been cured may contribute to fatal complications after third ventriculostomy. Patients with third ventriculostomies should be followed in a manner similar to patients with cerebrospinal fluid shunts.

1999 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-866 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Alkhani ◽  
Frederick A. Boop ◽  
James T. Rutka

✓ For benign intrinsic tectal tumors causing triventricular obstructive hydrocephalus, cerebrospinal fluid diversion followed by neuroimaging is a widely accepted treatment plan. In this report, the authors describe two children with focal enhancing tectal lesions that caused acute, symptomatic hydrocephalus. One child had neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). In both children the hydrocephalus was effectively treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Following this procedure, serial imaging studies revealed not only that the ventriculomegaly had resolved, but also that the enhancing tectal tumors had regressed and disappeared over time. The time to complete involution of these tumors was 18 months for the child with NF1 and 12 months for the other child. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the involution of enhancing tectal tumors after endoscopic third ventriculostomy. The possible mechanisms for this unexpected result are discussed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (5) ◽  
pp. 1032-1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Boschert ◽  
Dieter Hellwig ◽  
Joachim K. Krauss

Object. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is the treatment of choice for occlusive (noncommunicating) hydrocephalus. Nevertheless, its routine use in patients who have previously undergone shunt placement is still not generally accepted. The authors' aim was to investigate the long-term effects of ETV in a group of prospectively chosen patients. Methods. Patients who underwent ETV and had previously undergone shunt placement for occlusive hydrocephalus were followed prospectively for at least 3 years (range 36–103 months, mean 63.6 months). Nine female and eight male patients ranging from 8 to 54 years of age (mean 32 years) had undergone shunt placement 0.7 to 23.5 years (mean 8.1 years) before ETV. Fifteen patients were admitted with underdrainage and two with overdrainage. In six cases, ETV was performed as an emergency operation. The origin of hydrocephalus was aqueductal stenosis in 12 cases and aqueductal compression by a tumor in two cases. Three patients suffered from a fourth ventricle outlet syndrome, and in two patients an additional malresorptive component was suspected. Thirteen patients underwent ETV with shunt removal and insertion of an external drain in one session. The drain served as a safety measure; it could be opened if raised intracranial pressure or ventricular dilation was observed on postoperative imaging studies. In the other four patients the shunt was initially ligated and then removed during a second operation. Fourteen patients (82%) have remained shunt free. The other three patients, including the two with an additional malresorptive component, needed shunt reimplantation 3 days, 2 weeks, or 7 months after ETV. Conclusions. Use of ETV is safe and effective for the treatment for shunt dysfunction in patients with obstructive hydrocephalus.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry W. S. Schroeder ◽  
Rolf W. Warzok ◽  
Jamal A. Assaf ◽  
Michael R. Gaab

✓ In recent years, endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become a well-established procedure for the treatment of various forms of noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is considered to be an easy and safe procedure. Complications have rarely been reported in the literature. The authors present a case in which the patient suffered a fatal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after endoscopic third ventriculostomy.This 63-year-old man presented with confusion and drowsiness and was admitted in to the hospital in poor general condition. Computerized tomography scanning revealed an obstructive hydrocephalus caused by a tumor located in the cerebellopontine angle. An endoscopic third ventriculostomy was performed with the aid of a Fogarty balloon catheter. Some hours postoperatively, the patient became comatose. Computerized tomography scanning revealed a severe perimesencephalic—peripontine SAH and progressive hydrocephalus. Despite emergency external ventricular drainage, the patient died a few hours later.Although endoscopic third ventriculostomy is considered to be a simple and safe procedure, one should be aware that severe and sometimes fatal complications may occur. To avoid vascular injury, perforation of the floor of the third ventricle should be performed in the midline, halfway between the infundibular recess and the mammillary bodies, just behind the dorsum sellae.


1999 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Cinalli ◽  
Christian Sainte-Rose ◽  
Isabelle Simon ◽  
Guillaume Lot ◽  
Spiros Sgouros

Object. This study is a retrospective analysis of clinical data obtained in 28 patients affected by obstructive hydrocephalus who presented with signs of midbrain dysfunction during episodes of shunt malfunction.Methods. All patients presented with an upward gaze palsy, sometimes associated with other signs of oculomotor dysfunction. In seven cases the ocular signs remained isolated and resolved rapidly after shunt revision. In 21 cases the ocular signs were variably associated with other clinical manifestations such as pyramidal and extrapyramidal deficits, memory disturbances, mutism, or alterations in consciousness. Resolution of these symptoms after shunt revision was usually slow. In four cases a transient paradoxical aggravation was observed at the time of shunt revision. In 11 cases ventriculocisternostomy allowed resolution of the symptoms and withdrawal of the shunt.Simultaneous supratentorial and infratentorial intracranial pressure recordings performed in seven of the patients showed a pressure gradient between the supratentorial and infratentorial compartments, with a higher supratentorial pressure before shunt revision. Inversion of this pressure gradient was observed after shunt revision and resolution of the gradient was observed in one case after third ventriculostomy. In six recent cases, a focal midbrain hyperintensity was evidenced on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging sequences at the time of shunt malfunction. This rapidly resolved after the patient underwent third ventriculostomy.Conclusions. It is probable that in obstructive hydrocephalus, at the time of shunt malfunction, the development of a transtentorial pressure gradient could initially induce a functional impairment of the upper midbrain, inducing upward gaze palsy. The persistence of the gradient could lead to a global dysfunction of the upper midbrain. Third ventriculostomy contributes to equalization of cerebrospinal fluid pressure across the tentorium by restoring free communication between the infratentorial and supratentorial compartments, resulting in resolution of the patient's clinical symptoms.


2005 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 848-852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahmoud Hamdy Kamel ◽  
Michael Kelleher ◽  
Kristian Aquilina ◽  
Chris Lim ◽  
John Caird ◽  
...  

Object. Neuroendoscopists often note pulsatility or flabbiness of the floor of the third ventricle during endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and believe that either is a good indication of the procedure's success. Note, however, that this belief has never been objectively measured or proven in a prospective study. The authors report on a simple test—the hydrostatic test—to assess the mobility of the floor of the third ventricle and confirm adequate ventricular flow. They also analyzed the relationship between a mobile floor (a positive hydrostatic test) and prospective success of ETV. Methods. During a period of 3 years between July 2001 and July 2004, 30 ETVs for obstructive hydrocephalus were performed in 22 male and eight female patients. Once the stoma had been created, the irrigating Ringer lactate solution was set at a 30-cm height from the external auditory meatus, and the irrigation valve was opened while the other ports on the endoscope were closed. The ventricular floor ballooned downward and stabilized. The irrigation valve was then closed and ports of the endoscope were opened. The magnitude of the upward displacement of the floor was then assessed. Funneling of the stoma was deemed to be a good indicator of floor mobility, adequate flow, and a positive hydrostatic test. All endoscopic procedures were recorded using digital video and recordings were subsequently assessed separately by two blinded experienced neuroendoscopists. Patients underwent prospective clinical follow up during a mean period of 11.2 months (range 1 month–3 years), computerized tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging studies of the brain, and measurements of cerebrospinal fluid pressure through a ventricular reservoir when present. Failure of ETV was defined as the subsequent need for shunt implantation. The overall success rate of the ETV was 70% and varied from 86.9% in patients with a mobile stoma and a positive hydrostatic test to only 14.2% in patients with a poorly mobile floor and a negative test (p < 0.05). The positive predictive value of the hydrostatic test was 86.9%, negative predictive value 85.7%, sensitivity 95.2%, and specificity 66.6%. Conclusions. The authors concluded that the hydrostatic test is an easy, brief test. A positive test result confirms a mobile ventricular floor and adequate flow through the created ventriculostomy. Mobility of the stoma is an important predictor of ETV success provided that there is no obstruction at the level of the arachnoid granulations or venous outflow. A thin, redundant, mobile third ventricle floor indicates a longstanding pressure differential between the third ventricle and the basal cisterns, which is a crucial factor for ETV success. A positive hydrostatic test may avert the need to insert a ventricular reservoir, thus avoiding associated risks of infection.


1983 ◽  
Vol 59 (5) ◽  
pp. 875-878 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian R. Whittle ◽  
John L. Allsop ◽  
Michael Besser

✓ Computerized tomography (CT) revealed obstructive hydrocephalus and a pineal mass in a 14-year-old girl who presented with headaches and a Parinaud's syndrome. Although there was no major evidence of extracranial tuberculosis, and cerebrospinal fluid obtained during third ventriculostomy contained no leukocytes, suboccipital transtentorial biopsy of the lesion revealed it to be a tuberculoma. Serial CT scans showed resolution of the lesion following subtotal resection and antituberculous therapy. The implications of this case with regard to difficulties in the diagnosis of cerebral tuberculoma and the management of pineal region tumors are discussed.


2004 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 626-633 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hailong Feng ◽  
Guangfu Huang ◽  
Xiaoling Liao ◽  
Kai Fu ◽  
Haibin Tan ◽  
...  

Object. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the safety and efficacy of, and indications and outcome prognosis for endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in 58 patients with obstructive hydrocephalus. Methods. Between September 1999 and April 2003, 58 ETVs were performed in 58 patients with obstructive hydrocephalus (36 male and 22 female patients) at the authors' institution. The ages of the patients ranged from 5 to 67 years (mean age 35 years) and the follow-up period ranged from 3 to 41 months (mean duration of follow up 24 months). Patients were divided into four subgroups based on the cause of the obstructive hydrocephalus: 21 with intracranial tumors; 11 with intracranial cysts; 18 with aqueductal stenosis; and eight with intracranial hemorrhage or infection. Both univariate and multi-variate statistical analyses were performed to assess the prognostic relevance of the cause of the obstructive hydrocephalus, early postoperative clinical appearance, and neuroimaging findings in predicting the result of the ETV. The survival rate was 87% at the end of the 1st year and 84% at the end of the 2nd year post-ETV. One month after ETV an overall clinical improvement was observed in 45 (77.6%) of 58 patients. If we also consider the successful revision of ETV in two patients, a success rate of 78.3% (47 of 60 patients) was reached. The ETV was successful in 17 (81%) of 21 patients with intracranial tumors, nine (82%) of 11 with cystic lesions, 16 (88.9%) of 18 with aqueductal stenosis, and three (38%) of eight with intracranial hemorrhage or infection. A Kaplan—Meier analysis illustrates that the percentage of functioning ETVs stabilizes between 75 and 80% 1 year after the operation. In a comparison of results 1 year after ETV, the authors found that the aqueductal stenosis subgroup had the highest proportion of functioning ETV (89%). The proportions of the tumor and cyst subgroups were 84 and 82%, respectively, whereas the proportion was only 50% in the ventriculitis/intracranial hemorrhage subgroup (strata log-rank test: χ2 = 7.93, p = 0.0475). In the present study, ETV failed in eight patients (13.8%) and the time to failure after the procedure was a mean of 3.4 months (median 2 months, range 0–8 months). The logistic regression analysis confirmed an early postoperative improvement (within 2 weeks after ETV, significance [Sig] of log likelihood ratio [LLR] < 0.0001) and a patent stoma on cine phase—contrast magnetic resonance (MR) images (Sig of LLR = 0.0002) were significant prognostic factors for a successful ETV. The results demonstrated the multivariate model (B = − 53.7309, standard error = 325.1732, Wald = 0.0273, Sig = 0.8688) could predict a correct result in terms of success or failure from ETV surgery in 89.66% of observed cases. The Pearson chi-square test demonstrated that little reliance could be placed on the finding of a reduced size of the lateral ventricle (χ2 = 5.305, p = 0.07) on neuroimaging studies within 2 weeks after ETV, but it became a significant predictive factor at 3 months (χ2 = 8.992, p = 0.011) and 6 months (χ2 = 10.586, p = 0.005) post-ETV. Major complications occurred in seven patients (12.1%), including intraoperative venous bleeding in three, arterial bleeding in one, and occlusion of the stoma in three patients. The overall mortality rate was 10.3% (six patients). One of these patients died of pulmonary infection and another of ventriculitis. Four additional patients died of progression of malignant tumor during the follow-up period. Conclusions. The results indicate that ETV is a most effective treatment in cases of obstructive hydrocephalus that is caused by aqueductal stenosis and space-occupying lesions. For patients with infections or intraventricular bleeding, ETV has considerable effects in selected cases with confirmed CSF dynamic studies. Early clinical and cine phase—contrast MR imaging findings after the operation play an important role in predicting patient outcomes after ETV. The predictive value of an alteration in ventricle size, especially during the early stage following ETV, is unsatisfactory. Seventy-five percent of ETV failures occur within 6 months after surgery. A repeated ventriculostomy should be considered to be a sufficient treatment option in cases in which stoma dysfunction is suspected.


2000 ◽  
Vol 92 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marvin Bergsneider ◽  
Langston T. Holly ◽  
Jae Hong Lee ◽  
Wesley A. King ◽  
John G. Frazee

Object. In this report the authors review their 3-year experience with the endoscopic management of patients with hydrocephalus who harbored cysticercal cysts within the third and lateral ventricles. The management plan was to utilize an endoscopic approach to remove the cysts and to incorporate techniques useful in treating obstructive hydrocephalus. The ultimate goals were to avoid having to place a complication-prone cerebrospinal fluid shunt and to eliminate the risk of complications related to cyst degeneration.Methods. A retrospective analysis of 10 patients with hydrocephalus and cysticercal cysts within the third or lateral ventricles who were endoscopically managed was performed. A general description of the instrumentation and technique used for removal of the intraventricular cysts is given. At presentation, neuroimaging revealed findings suggestive of obstructive hydrocephalus in eight patients.Seven of the 10 patients treated endoscopically were spared the necessity of shunt placement. Three successful third ventriculostomies and one therapeutic septum pellucidotomy were performed. Despite frequent rupture of the cyst walls during removal of the cysts, there were no cases of ventriculitis. The endoscopic approach allowed successful removal of a cyst situated in the roof of the anterior third ventricle. One patient suffered from recurrent shunt obstructions secondary to a shunt-induced migration of cysts from the posterior fossa to the lateral ventricles.Conclusions. The endoscopic removal of third and lateral ventricle cysticercal cysts, combined with a third ventriculostomy or septum pellucidotomy in selected cases, is an effective treatment in patients with hydrocephalus and should be considered the primary treatment for this condition.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 432
Author(s):  
André Corsino da Costa ◽  
Nilson Pinheiro Júnior ◽  
Clecio Godeiro Junior ◽  
Ana Clara Aragão Fernandes ◽  
Cítara Trindade de Queiroz ◽  
...  

Background: Parkinsonism secondary to the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus due to stenosis of the cerebral aqueduct, with implantation of a ventricular peritoneal (VP) shunt is a rare complication, still poorly described and disseminated in the literature. Case Description: A 38-year-old male presented a history of moderate-intensity daily headache, which deteriorated 2 months before admission, with no changes in the neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hypertensive hydrocephalus associated with cerebral aqueduct stenosis. A VP shunt was performed, an adjustable pressure valve was successfully inserted, and he was discharged asymptomatic. However, months later, he progressed with important symptoms of hypo- and hyper-drainage, which persisted after valve pressure adjustments and even its exchange, culminating into an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). But soon after, severe Parkinsonian syndrome appeared. Therapy with levodopa and bromocriptine was initiated, revealing a slow response initially but good evolution within 6 months. At present, he presents low-intensity residual tremor, which is well controlled with medications, and has regained independence for daily activities, with minimal motor limitation and no cognitive changes. Conclusion: There is still no mechanism that explains the occurrence of Parkinsonian syndrome in these cases. It is suggested that the rostral portion of the midbrain was injured due to abrupt changes in the transtentorial gradient pressure after the ventricular shunt, along with various adjustments in the valve pressure. ETV and early introduction of levodopa therapy in patients who developed postventriculoperitoneal shunt Parkinsonism seems to be the most effective combination, with satisfactory clinical response in the medium/long term.


2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (3) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vitaly Siomin ◽  
Giuseppe Cinalli ◽  
Andre Grotenhuis ◽  
Aprajay Golash ◽  
Shizuo Oi ◽  
...  

Object. In this study the authors evaluate the safety, efficacy, and indications for endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in patients with a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage or intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection. Methods. The charts of 101 patients from seven international medical centers were retrospectively reviewed; 46 patients had a history of hemorrhage, 42 had a history of CSF infection, and 13 had a history of both disorders. All patients experienced third ventricular hydrocephalus before endoscopy. The success rate for treatment in these three groups was 60.9, 64.3, and 23.1%, respectively. The follow-up period in successfully treated patients ranged from 0.6 to 10 years. Relatively minor complications were observed in 15 patients (14.9%), and there were no deaths. A higher rate of treatment failure was associated with three factors: classification in the combined infection/hemorrhage group, premature birth in the posthemorrhage group, and younger age in the postinfection group. A higher success rate was associated with a history of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement before ETV in the posthemorrhage group, even among those who had been born prematurely, who were otherwise more prone to treatment failure. The 13 premature infants who had suffered an IVH and who had undergone VP shunt placement before ETV had a 100% success rate. The procedure was also successful in nine of 10 patients with primary aqueductal stenosis. Conclusions. Patients with obstructive hydrocephalus and a history of either hemorrhage or infection may be good candidates for ETV, with safety and success rates comparable with those in more general series of patients. Patients who have sustained both hemorrhage and infection are poor candidates for ETV, except in selected cases and as a treatment of last resort. In patients who have previously undergone shunt placement posthemorrhage, ETV is highly successful. It is also highly successful in patients with primary aqueductal stenosis, even in those with a history of hemorrhage or CSF infection.


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