Transventricular, transaqueductal scope-in-scope endoscopic excision of fourth ventricular neurocysticercosis: a series of 13 cases and a review

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashish Suri ◽  
Rohit Kumar Goel ◽  
Faiz Uddin Ahmad ◽  
Ananth Kesav Vellimana ◽  
Bhawani Shankar Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Cyst Excision ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Ventricle Size

Object Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic infestation of the central nervous system worldwide. In patients presenting with acute hydrocephalus due to intraventricular NCC, surgery is the only option. Still, there is no consensus regarding the optimal surgical strategy, although neuroendoscopic excision is a promising method. However, the literature regarding the use of this modality in fourth ventricular NCC is scarce. The authors describe a series of patients with fourth ventricular NCC treated endoscopically. Methods The clinical records of 13 patients with fourth ventricular NCC who had presented with hydrocephalus were retrospectively analyzed. A fourth ventricular cyst was completely excised in all patients by using a transventricular, transaqueductal “scope-in-scope” endoscopic technique. Twelve endoscopic third ventriculostomies and 1 septostomy had been performed. Results Shunt placement was avoided in all patients. There were minimal peri- and postoperative complications. The mean duration of follow-up was 22.3 months (range 3–41 months). All patients had an improved clinical outcome. Follow-up neuroimaging revealed no residual lesion and a decreased ventricle size in all patients. Conclusions The present series of patients with fourth ventricular NCC is the largest in the existing English-language medical literature. Endoscopic fourth ventricular cysticercal cyst excision along with internal cerebrospinal fluid diversion via endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an effective alternative to open microneurosurgical procedures and avoids shunt placement and its related complications.

Bifurcated bypass in severe chronic limb threatening ischaemia

Vascular ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 170853812199985
Author(s):  
Daniele Adami ◽  
Michele Marconi ◽  
Alberto Piaggesi ◽  
Davide M Mocellin ◽  
Raffaella N Berchiolli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rates ◽  
Primary Patency ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Bypass Patency ◽  
Stage 4 ◽  
Endovascular Approach ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clinical Records

Objectives Revascularization according to the angiosome concept is of proven importance for limb salvage in chronic limb threatening ischaemia but it is not always practicable. Bifurcated bypasses could be considered as an option when an endovascular approach is not feasible or has already failed and a single bypass would not allow direct revascularization of the ischaemic area. Bifurcated bypasses are characterized by landing on two different arteries, the main artery (in direct continuity with the foot vessels) and the secondary one (perfusing the angiosome district). The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of bifurcated bypass in chronic limb threatening ischaemia. Methods Thirty-five patients were consecutively treated with a bifurcated bypass for chronic limb threatening ischaemia from January 2014 to December 2019 in a single vascular surgery centre. Data from clinical records and operative registers were collected prospectively in an electronic database and retrospectively analysed. Primary and primary assisted bypass patency, amputation-free survival, morbidity and mortality rates at 12 and 24 months were analysed. Results Mean follow-up period was 25.1 months (range 2–72 months). Thirty-six bifurcated bypasses were performed on 35 patients (age 75.3 ± 7.2 years; 69.4% were male). According to Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection classification 22.2% belonged to stage 3 and 77.8% to stage 4 and the mean Rutherford’s class was 5.1 ± 0.7. Immediate technical success was 100%. Early mortality and morbidity rates were respectively 5.5%, and 33.3%; foot surgery was performed in 50% of cases with wound healing in all patients. Primary patency and primary assisted bypass patency were 96.7% and 100% at 6 months; 85.2% and 92% at 12 months, 59.9% and 73.4% at 24 months, respectively. Amputation-free survival at 12 and 24 months was, respectively, 95.6% and 78.8%. Overall survival rates at 12 and 24 months were respectively 94.4% and 91.6%. Conclusions Bifurcates bypass can provide good results in patients with chronic limb threatening ischaemia without endovascular option, especially in diabetic ones. Bifurcated bypass is a complex surgical solution, both to be planned and performed, and it is quite invasive for frail patients that should be accurately selected.

Diamond-Shaped Mini-Craniotomy: A New Concept in Neurosurgery

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Emmanuele Umana ◽  
Gianluca Scalia ◽  
Marco Fricia ◽  
Giovanni Federico Nicoletti ◽  
Domenico Gerardo Iacopino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Elderly Patients ◽  
Temporal Muscle ◽  
Brain Computed Tomography ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Dural Opening ◽  
Traditional Approaches ◽  
Scalp Incision

Abstract Background We describe, step by step, a modified, less invasive, diamond-shaped mini-craniotomy that optimizes dural opening and can be performed in elderly patients affected by acute subdural or intracerebral hematomas, in therapy with antiplatelets or anticoagulants. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 67 patients (mean age of 78.5 years) treated in our institution, during a period of 10 years, with this novel diamond-shaped craniotomy. Seventeen patients were treated for intracerebral hemorrhage and 50 patients for acute subdural hematomas. All the patients were in therapy with antiplatelets or anticoagulants. Results Approach-related complications were not detected. Ten of 67 patients (14.9%) presented temporal muscle atrophy; there was no scar deformity, paresthesia, hyperalgesia, or ramus frontalis palsy around the scalp incision. Thirty-day mortality was 22%. The mean follow-up was 1.3 years. One-month postoperative brain computed tomography scans showed a satisfactory hematoma evacuation in 57 of 67 patients (85%). Conclusions The diamond-shaped mini-craniotomy for acute subdural and intracerebral hematomas is safe and effective, and it should be considered as an alternative to traditional approaches, particularly in elderly patients.

Decision analysis of treatment options for vestibular schwannoma

2011 ◽  
Vol 114 (2) ◽  
pp. 400-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Whitmore ◽  
Christopher Urban ◽  
Ephraim Church ◽  
Michael Ruckenstein ◽  
Sherman C. Stein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Complication Rates ◽  
Online Databases ◽  
Decision Analytical Model ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Meta Regression

Object Widespread use of MR imaging has contributed to the more frequent diagnosis of vestibular schwannomas (VSs). These tumors represent 10% of primary adult intracranial neoplasms, and if they are symptomatic, they usually present with hearing loss and tinnitus. Currently, there are 3 treatment options for quality of life (QOL): wait and scan, microsurgery, and radiosurgery. In this paper, the authors' purpose is to determine which treatment modality yields the highest QOL at 5- and 10-year follow-up, considering the likelihood of recurrence and various complications. Methods The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane online databases were searched for English-language articles published between 1990 and June 2008, containing key words relating to VS. Data were pooled to calculate the prevalence of treatment complications, tumor recurrence, and QOL with various complications. For parameters in which incidence varied with time of follow-up, the authors used meta-regression to determine the mean prevalence rates at a specified length of follow-up. A decision-analytical model was constructed to compare 5- and 10-year outcomes for a patient with a unilateral tumor and partially intact hearing. The 3 treatment options, wait and scan, microsurgery, and radiosurgery, were compared. Results After screening more than 2500 abstracts, the authors ultimately included 113 articles in this analysis. Recurrence, complication rates, and onset of complication varied with the treatment chosen. The relative QOL at the 5-year follow-up was 0.898 of normal for wait and scan, 0.953 for microsurgery, and 0.97 for radiosurgery. These differences are significant (p < 0.0052). Data were too scarce at the 10-year follow-up to calculate significant differences between the microsurgery and radiosurgery strategies. Conclusions At 5 years, patients treated with radiosurgery have an overall better QOL than those treated with either microsurgery or those investigated further with serial imaging. The authors found that the complications associated with wait-and-scan and microsurgery treatment strategies negatively impacted patient lives more than the complications from radiosurgery. One limitation of this study is that the 10-year follow-up data were too limited to analyze, and more studies are needed to determine if the authors' results are still consistent at 10 years.

Early experience treating thoracic disc herniations using a modified transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression and fusion

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bransford ◽  
Fangyi Zhang ◽  
Carlo Bellabarba ◽  
Mark Konodi ◽  
Jens R. Chapman
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
Anterior Approach ◽  
Csf Leak ◽  
Additional Surgery ◽  
Disc Herniations ◽  
Preoperative Status ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Thoracic Disc

Object Symptomatic thoracic disc herniations (TDHs) are relatively uncommon and are typically treated with an anterior approach. Various posterior surgical approaches have been developed to treat TDH, but the gold standard remains transthoracic decompression. Certain patients have comorbidities and herniation aspects that are not optimally treated with an anterior approach. A transfacet pedicle-sparing approach was first described in 1995, but outcomes and complications have not been well described. The objective of this study was to assess outcomes and complications in a consecutive series of patients with TDH undergoing posterior transfacet decompression and discectomy with posterior instrumentation and fusion. Methods Eighteen consecutive patients undergoing operative management of TDH were identified from a tertiary care referral database. All patients underwent a transfacet pedicle-sparing decompression and segmental instrumentation with interbody fusion. Outcomes and complications were retrospectively assessed in this patient series. Clinical records were scrutinized to assess levels and types of disc herniation; blood loss; pre- and postoperative motor scores, Nurick grades, and visual analog pain scale scores; and complications such as wrong-level surgery, infection, seroma, and neurological changes. Pre- and postoperative imaging studies were reviewed to assess levels and types of herniation, alignment, and accuracy of instrumentation. Results Of the 18 patients, 9 had TDHs at multiple levels. The patients presented with symptoms including myelopathy, axial back pain, urinary symptoms, and radiculopathy and radiological evidence of 29 compressive TDHs ranging from T1–2 to T12–L1. Discs were classified as central (10) or paracentral (19). All discs were successfully removed with no incidence of wrong-level surgery or CSF leak. The mean estimated blood loss was 870 ml with no dural tears. Nurick grades improved on average from 2.5 to 1.9. All patients reported improvement in symptoms compared with preoperative status. The mean visual analog scale score improved from 59 to 21. Sixteen of the 18 patients spent an average of 4.2 days in the hospital; the 2 other patients spent 58 and 69 days. The average duration of follow-up was 12.2 months in 14 patients; 4 patients were lost to follow-up. Twelve patients had no complications. Five patients developed postoperative wound infections or seromas requiring additional operative debridement. One patient had a misplaced screw and suboptimally positioned interbody graft requiring revision. One transient neurological deterioration (American Spinal Injury Association [ASIA] D to ASIA B) occurred postoperatively associated with an inferior segment fracture 20 days after surgery. This necessitated extending the fusion caudally; the patient subsequently experienced a full return to better-than-baseline neurological status. Conclusions A modified transfacetal pedicle-sparing approach combined with short segmental fusion offers a safe means of achieving concurrent decompression and segmental stabilization and is an option for certain subtypes of TDH. Although 6 patients required additional surgery for postoperative complications, all patients experienced improvement relative to their preoperative status.

Thoracoscopic-Assisted Ventriculo-Azygous Shunt Placement for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Pace ◽  
Gabriel A Smith ◽  
Andrea Pannunzio ◽  
Brian D. Rothstein ◽  
Alan Markowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Shortness Of Breath ◽  
Azygous Vein ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion ◽  
History Of ◽  
Shunt Dependence

Abstract BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid diversion is one of the most frequent neurosurgical procedures across the world and can be challenging in select patients who fail standard distal drainage sites. OBJECTIVE To present the case of a woman after failing peritoneal, pleural, and atrial distal drainage sites who underwent a thoracoscopic-assisted ventriculo-azygous vein shunt placement. METHODS A 32-year-old woman presented to our hospital with long-standing history of hydrocephalus and shunt dependence. She had failed peritoneal and atrial shunts secondary to infection, scarring, and clot formation. At presentation, she had a pleural shunt in place and developed a large pleural effusion with shortness of breath. RESULTS She was taken to the operating room where a thoracoscopic-assisted ventriculo-azygous vein shunt was placed through a mini-thoracotomy. Postoperatively, she has not required a shunt revision in &gt;2 years of follow-up. CONCLUSION When other distal sites fail, our case report illustrates a novel surgical technique capable of being performed through a multidisciplinary approach.

Hydrocephalus surveillance following shunt placement or endoscopic third ventriculostomy: a survey of surgeons in the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Networks

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
David S. Hersh ◽  
Rahul Kumar ◽  
Paul Klimo ◽  
Markus Bookland ◽  
Jonathan E. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Research ◽  
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Late Failure ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Routine Imaging

OBJECTIVE Late failure is a well-documented complication of cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement and, less commonly, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). However, standards regarding the frequency of clinical and radiological follow-up in these patients have not been defined. Here, the authors report on their survey of surgeons at sites for the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) or its implementation/quality improvement arm (HCRNq) to provide a cross-sectional overview of practice patterns. METHODS A 24-question survey was developed using the Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) platform and was distributed to the 138 pediatric neurosurgeons across 39 centers who participate in the HCRN or HCRNq. Survey questions were organized into three sections: 1) Demographics (5 questions), 2) Shunt Surveillance (12 questions), and 3) ETV Surveillance (7 questions). RESULTS A total of 122 complete responses were obtained, for an overall response rate of 88%. The majority of respondents have been in practice for more than 10 years (58%) and exclusively treat pediatric patients (79%). Most respondents consider hydrocephalus to have stabilized 1 month (21%) or 3 months (39%) after shunt surgery, and once stability is achieved, 72% then ask patients to return for routine clinical follow-up annually. Overall, 83% recommend lifelong clinical follow-up after shunt placement. Additionally, 75% obtain routine imaging studies in asymptomatic patients, although the specific imaging modality and frequency of imaging vary. The management of an asymptomatic increase in ventricle size or an asymptomatic catheter fracture also varies widely. Many respondents believe that hydrocephalus takes longer to stabilize after ETV than after shunt placement, reporting that they consider hydrocephalus to have stabilized 3 (28%), 6 (33%), or 12 (28%) months after an ETV. Although 68% of respondents have patients return annually for routine clinical follow-up after an ETV, only 56% recommend lifelong follow-up. The proportion of respondents who perform lifelong follow-up increases with greater practice experience (p = 0.01). Overall, 67% of respondents obtain routine imaging studies in asymptomatic patients after an ETV, with “rapid” MRI the study of choice for most respondents. CONCLUSIONS While there is a general consensus among pediatric neurosurgeons across North America that hydrocephalus patients should have long-term follow-up after shunt placement, radiological surveillance is characterized by considerable variety, as is follow-up after an ETV. Future work should focus on evaluating whether any one of these surveillance protocols is associated with improved outcomes.

Palliative endoscopic third ventriculostomy for pediatric primary brain tumors: a single-institution case series

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Robert C. Rennert ◽  
Michael G. Brandel ◽  
Shanmukha Srinivas ◽  
Divya Prajapati ◽  
Omar M. Al Jammal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brain Tumors ◽  
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Successful Outcome ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Tumor Type ◽  
Primary Brain Tumors ◽  
Leptomeningeal Spread ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Mean

OBJECTIVE Children with nonoperative brain tumors, such as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs), often have life-threatening hydrocephalus. Palliative shunting is common in such cases but can be complicated by hardware infection and mechanical failure. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a minimally invasive alternative to treat hydrocephalus without implanted hardware. Herein, the authors report their institutional experience with palliative ETV for primary pediatric brain tumors. METHODS The authors conducted a retrospective review of consecutive patients who had undergone palliative ETV for hydrocephalus secondary to nonresectable primary brain tumors over a 10-year period at Rady Children’s Hospital. Collected variables included age, sex, tumor type, tumor location, presence of leptomeningeal spread, use of a robot for ETV, complications, ETV Success Score (ETVSS), functional status, length of survival, and follow-up time. A successful outcome was defined as an ETV performed without clinically significant perioperative complications or secondary requirement for a new shunt. RESULTS Fifteen patients met the study inclusion criteria (11 males, 4 females; average age 7.9 years, range 0.8–21 years). Thirteen patients underwent manual ETV, and 2 patients underwent robotic ETV. Preoperative symptoms included gaze palsy, nausea/vomiting, headache, lethargy, hemiparesis, and seizures. Tumor types included DIPG (3), intraventricular/thalamic glioblastoma (2), and leptomeningeal spread of medulloblastoma (2), anaplastic oligo-/astrocytoma (2), rhabdoid tumor (2), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (1), ganglioglioma (1), pineoblastoma (1), and embryonal carcinoma (1). The mean preoperative ETVSS was 79 ± 8.8. There was 1 perioperative complication, a wound breakdown consistent with refractory hydrocephalus. The mean follow-up was 4.9 ± 5.5 months overall, and mean survival for the patients who died was 3.2 ± 3.6 months. Two patients remained alive at a mean follow-up of 15.7 months. Palliative ETV was successful in 7 patients (47%) and unsuccessful in 8 (53%). While patients with successful ETV were significantly older (11.9 ± 5.6 vs 4.4 ± 4.1 years, p = 0.010), there were no significant differences in preoperative ETVSS (p = 0.796) or postoperative survival (p = 0.476) between the successful and unsuccessful groups. Overall, functional outcomes were similar between the two groups; there was no significant difference in posttreatment Karnofsky Performance Status scores (68.6 ± 19.5 vs 61.3 ± 16.3, p = 0.454), suggesting that including ETV in the treatment algorithm did not worsen outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Palliative ETV is a safe and potentially efficacious treatment option in selected pediatric patients with hydrocephalus from nonoperative brain tumors. Close follow-up, especially in younger children, is required to ensure that patients with refractory symptoms receive appropriate secondary CSF diversion.

scholarly journals Brainstem angiocentric glioma: report of 2 cases

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 347-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristin J. Weaver ◽  
Lexi M. Crawford ◽  
Jeffrey A. Bennett ◽  
Marie L. Rivera-Zengotita ◽  
David W. Pincus
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Hemispheres ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Pathological Features ◽  
First Case ◽  
Close Observation ◽  
Pontine Lesion ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Angiocentric Glioma ◽  
Initial Description

Angiocentric glioma is a rare tumor that was recognized by the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System as a distinct clinicopathological entity in 2007. Since this initial description, the vast majority of cases of angiocentric glioma reported in the literature have involved tumors of the cerebral hemispheres. To date, only 1 case of angiocentric glioma arising from the posterior midbrain has been reported. The authors present the cases of 2 pediatric patients who were found to have brainstem angiocentric gliomas. The clinical course, radiological and pathological features, treatment, and follow-up are described. The first case is one of a 5-year-old girl who presented with double vision, headache, and nausea and was found to have a midbrain lesion with pathological features consistent with angiocentric glioma. She was treated with resection and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), followed by close observation and serial neuroimaging. The second case is one of a 6-year-old boy who presented with progressive mouth drooping and problems with balance. He was found to have a pontine lesion with pathological features consistent with angiocentric glioma. This patient was treated with ETV, followed by close observation and serial neuroimaging. This report includes 6 and 1.5 years of follow-up of the patients, respectively. While there are limited data regarding the prognosis or long-term management of patients with brainstem angiocentric gliomas, the cases described in this report suggest an indolent course for this tumor, similar to the course of angiocentric gliomas located in the cerebral hemispheres.

Toward reducing shunt placement rates in patients with myelomeningocele

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 361-365 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aabir Chakraborty ◽  
Darach Crimmins ◽  
Richard Hayward ◽  
Dominic Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Primary Closure ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Ventricular Dilation ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Reduced Rate ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Time Of Presentation ◽  
Previous Series

Object The prevalence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in patients with myelomeningocele has been reported to be in the region of 85%, and shunt-related complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. Since 1997 the authors have adopted a stringent policy with respect to shunt placement in patients with myelomeningocele, reserving this treatment for those with symptomatic hydrocephalus, severe ventricular dilation at the time of presentation, and/or unequivocal progressive ventriculomegaly after primary closure. They report their experience. Methods The authors reviewed all cases of myelomeningocele involving patients who presented to their institution over a 10-year period. They excluded cases in which the primary closure was carried out at another institution or in which there was not at least 12 months of clinical and imaging follow-up. Data regarding shunt insertion shunt-related complications, and clinical outcome were obtained from a review of the clinical records and analyzed. Results Fifty-four cases satisfied the inclusion criteria for this study. Shunt insertion was performed in 28 of these cases (51.9%). Conclusions Applying more stringent guidelines for shunt placement, permitting moderate ventricular dilation, and accepting some mild increase in ventricular size after myelomeningocele closure has resulted in a reduced rate of shunt placement compared with previous series. The rate is comparable to that reported following in utero closure of myelomeningocele.

scholarly journals Opening and closure of intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures in infants under 1 year of age: institutional technique, case series and review of the literature

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-105 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. D. Cearns ◽  
M. Kommer ◽  
A. Amato-Watkins ◽  
E. Campbell ◽  
T. Beez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Csf Leak ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Infantile Hydrocephalus ◽  
Wound Breakdown ◽  
Csf Leakage ◽  
Clinical Records

Abstract Purpose Intraventricular neuroendoscopic techniques, particularly third ventriculostomy, are employed increasingly in the management of infantile hydrocephalus. However, surgical access to the ventricular cavities is associated with a risk of post-operative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Here, we describe a structured, multi-layered approach to wound opening and closure which aims to maximise the natural tissue barriers against CSF leakage. We present a series of patients undergoing this technique and subsequently review the literature regarding opening and closure techniques in paediatric intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures. Methods We performed a retrospective case series analysis of patients under 1 year of age who underwent intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures in a single institution over a 5-year period. Patients were identified from an institutional operative database, and operation notes and clinical records were subsequently reviewed. Results 28 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria for this study. The mean age at operation was 9 weeks. 27 patients underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy whilst 1 underwent endoscopic septostomy, and all patients underwent our structured, multi-layered opening and closure technique. Follow-up ranged from 4 months to 5 years. There were no cases of post-operative CSF leak, infection or wound breakdown. 12 patients remained shunt-free at the last follow-up, with the remaining 16 requiring shunt insertion for progressive hydrocephalus at a mean of 24 days post-operatively. Conclusion Various methods aiming to prevent post-operative CSF leak have been reported in the literature. We propose that our institutional technique may be of benefit in minimising this risk in infants undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy and similar intraventricular neuroendoscopic procedures.

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