J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2015; 76 - A093
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1566412

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Artur Xhumari 1, Ermira Pajaj 1, Maren Ruka 1, Mithat Demneri 1, Mentor Petrela 1, 2
  • 1Service of Neurosurgery, UHC “Mother Tereza,” Tirana, Albania
  • 2Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine, Tirana, Albania

Introduction Hydrocephalus (HCP) is the pathological accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The conventional treatment has been extra cranial CSF shunting to another body cavity. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative for treatment of hydrocephalus that can eliminate the need for implantation of a lifelong ventricular shunt system. ETV is superior to shunt considering the economic costs of the procedure. This study aims to present the experience in the treatment of hydrocephalus by using ETV in Neurosurgical Service of Mother Tereza Hospital from 2008 to 2014.

Material and Methods This is a consecutive case series retrospective study. The data were collected from our patient database from the period 2008 to 2014. We report an overall midterm success rate of 90% and support ETV as the first choice treatment of noncommunicating hydrocephalus, or in shunt failure.

Results Our overall success rate is 90%. In four cases (10%), ETV procedure has failed and a DVP has been performed 3 to 12 months after.

Conclusion Our results support the ETV as an established method for the treatment of noncommunicating hydrocephalus in carefully selected patients. Our rates of success and complications compare very favorably to the literature. ETV has good results in selected cases of noncommunicating HCP and of HCP previously shunted. Failure is seen within 1 year after the procedure, mostly in NPH.

Keywords ETV; hydrocephalus; shunt failure