![]() The prognosis for hydrocephalus depends on the cause, the extent of symptoms and the timeliness of diagnosis and treatment. In this procedure, a surgeon utilizes a tiny camera (endoscope) with fiber optics to visualize the ventricles and create a new pathway through which CSF can flow. a brain tumor).Ī limited number of patients can be treated with an alternative operation called endoscopic third ventriculostomy. In some cases, two procedures are performed, the first to divert the CSF and another at a later stage to remove the cause of obstruction (e.g. The shunt system continuously performs its function of diverting the CSF away from the brain, thereby keeping the intracranial pressure within normal limits. Once inserted, the shunt system usually remains in place for the duration of a patient's life (although additional operations to revise the shunt system are sometimes needed). The shunt is a flexible tube which, along with a catheter and a valve, is placed under the skin to drain excess CSF from a ventricle inside the brain to another body cavity such as the peritoneal cavity (the area surrounding the abdominal organs). Hydrocephalus is most commonly treated indirectly by implanting a device known as a “shunt” to divert the excess CSF away from the brain. Based on the underlying etiology, the condition may be treated directly by removing the cause of CSF obstruction or indirectly by diverting the excess fluid. Hydrocephalus can be treated in a variety of ways. Hydrocephalus Ex-vacuo: It primarily affects adults and occurs when a degenerative disease, like Alzheimer’s disease, stroke or trauma, causes damage to the brain that may cause the brain tissue to shrink. It is characterized by dilated ventricles with normal pressure within the spinal column. Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: It is a form of communicating hydrocephalus that can occur at any age, but is most common in the elderly. Non-communication (Obstructive) Hydrocephalus: It occurs when the flow of CSF is blocked along one of more of the passages connecting the ventricles, causing enlargement of the pathways upstream of the block and leading to an increase in pressure within the skull. The condition arises either due to inadequate absorption or due to an abnormal increase in the quantity of CSF produced. normal CSF pressures, hydrocephalus can be divided into categories.Īcquired Hydrocephalus: This is the type of hydrocephalus that develops at birth or in adulthood and is typically caused by injury or disease.Ĭongenital Hydrocephalus: It is present at birth and may be caused by events that occur during fetal development or as a result of genetic abnormalities.Ĭommunicating Hydrocephalus: This type of hydrocephalus occurs when there is no obstruction to the flow of CSF within the ventricular system. Based on onset, presence of structural defects or high vs. Hydrocephalus can be inherited genetically, may be associated with developmental disorders, like spina bifida or encephalocele, or occur as a result of brain tumors, head injuries, hemorrhage or diseases such as meningitis. Some cases of hydrocephalus are present at birth, while others develop in childhood or adulthood. Little is understood about the causes of hydrocephalus. The majority of these cases are often diagnosed before birth, at the time of delivery or in early childhood. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), hydrocephalus is believed to affect approximately one to two in every 1,000 children born in the U.S. ![]() Hydrocephalus can occur at any age, but is most common in infants and adults age 60 and older. The accumulation of CSF occurs due to either an increase in production of the fluid, a decrease in its rate of absorption or from a condition that blocks its normal flow through the ventricular system. When CSF builds up around the brain, it can create harmful pressures on the tissues of the brain confined within the skull. ![]() CSF is in constant circulation within the ventricles of the brain and serves many crucial functions: 1) it acts as a "shock absorber" for the brain and spinal cord 2) it acts as a vehicle for delivering nutrients to the brain and removing waste from it and 3) it flows between the cranium and spine to regulate changes in pressure. ![]() Although it translates as "water on the brain," the word actually refers to the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid, a clear organic liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning the head. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up within the fluid-containing cavities or ventricles of the brain. ![]()
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