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DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1052363
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Hydrocephalus in Infancy and Childhood: Diagnosis and Indication for Operation
Publication History
Publication Date:
15 May 2008 (online)
Abstract
Improvement of the prognosis for children suffering from hydrocephalus requires prompt diagnosis and reliable indication of surgical treatment. Today, intrauterine hydrocephalus is detectable within the first three months of pregnancy; in infancy, before the cranial sutures have fused, pathological growth of the head is the principal sign confirming together with anatomical examinations (ultrasound, CT scan) the indication of operative treatment. In later childhood, surgical treatment is only definitely indicated by symptoms and morphological examination of clearly active hypertensive hydrocephalus. Intermittently normotensive hydrocephalus (not "normal-pressure-hydrocephalus"!) showing symptoms adapted to childhood, however, often requires exact examination of intracranial pressure dynamics, including quantitative volume provocation test. "Step-by-step-procedure" is advisable (Table III)
Key words
Hydrocephalus - Normal-pressure-hydrocephalus - Diagnosis - Bolus test - Infusion test - ICP - Operative indication - Infancy - Childhood