Preoperative third ventricular bowing as a predictor of endoscopic third ventriculostomy success

Combined Predictive Model for Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success in Adults and Children

BACKGROUND

The selection of patients in whom endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) can be effective remains poorly defined. The ETV success score (ETVSS) and the presence of bowing of the third ventricle have been identified as independent factors for predicting success, each with limitations. The objective of this study is to elaborate a combined predictive model to predict ETV success in a mixed cohort of patients.

METHODS

Demographic, intraoperative, postoperative, and radiologic variables were analyzed in all ventriculostomies performed consecutively at a single institution from December 2004 to December 2022. Qualitative and quantitative measurements of preoperative, immediate, and late postoperative magnetic resonance imaging were conducted. Univariate analysis and logistic regression models were performed.

RESULTS

118 ETVs were performed in the selected period. Of these procedures, 106 met the inclusion criteria. The overall success rate was 71.7%, with a median follow-up of 3.64 years (interquartile range, 1.06-5.62). The median age was 36.1 years (interquartile range, 11.7-53.5). 35.84% were children (median, 7.81 years). Among the 80 patients with third ventricle bowing, the success rate was 88.8% (P < 0.001). Larger third ventricle dimensions on preoperative mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging were associated with increased ETV success. The model with the best receiver operating characteristic curves, with an area under the curve of 0.918 (95% confidence interval, 0.856-0.979) includes sex, ETVSS, presence of complications, and third ventricle bowing.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of bowing of the third ventricle is strongly associated with a higher ETV success rate. However, a combined predictive model that integrates it with the ETVSS is the most appropriate approach for selecting patients for ETV.

Heidelberg ETV score to assess success of ETV in patients with occlusive hydrocephalus: a retrospective single-center study

In aqueduct stenosis, pressure difference below and above level of obstruction leads to bulging of third ventricular floor (TVF) and lamina terminalis (LT). Endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomy (ETV) is the standard treatment in these patients. We tried to assess success of ETV depending on those two radiological changes in aqueduct stenosis. We implemented "Heidelberg ETV score" retrospectively to assess the state of TVF as well as LT in same manner in midsagittal MR image. Every patient had a preoperative, direct, 3-months and one-year postoperative score from -2 to + 2. We correlated the scores to clinical course to decide whether the score is reliable in defining success of ETV. Between 2017-2021, 67 (mean age 25.6 ± 23.9y) patients treated with ETV were included. Success rate of primary and Re-ETVs was 91% over 46.8 ± 19.0 months. A marked shift of score to the left after surgery in success group was noticed through the distribution of score immediate postoperative, 3-months later; 70.2% showed (+ 2) before surgery, 38.9% scored (0) after surgery and 50.9% showed further score drop to (-1) 3 months later, p < 0.001. In cases of failure, there was initial decrease after surgery followed by increase with ETV-failure (mean time to failure: 7.2 ± 5.7 months) in 100%. Significant difference was noticed in Heidelberg score at postoperative 1-year- and failure-MRI follow-up between two groups, p < 0.001. Heidelberg score describes anatomical changes in third ventricle after ETV and can serve in assessment of MR images to define success of the procedure in patients with aqueduct stenosis.

Spontaneous Third Ventriculostomy in Cases of Aqueductal Stenosis: A Retrospective Case Series

BACKGROUND

Spontaneous third ventriculostomy (STV) is a rare occurrence in cases of obstructive hydrocephalus where the walls of the third ventricle rupture, communicating the ventricular system, and the subarachnoid space leading to arrest of active hydrocephalus. We aim to review our series of STVs while reviewing previous reports.

METHODS

A retrospective review of cases undergoing cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) from 2015 to 2022 of any age with imaging evidence of arrested obstructive hydrocephalus was performed. Patients in which aqueductal stenosis was radiologically evident and the presence of third ventriculostomy through which cerebrospinal fluid flow was detectable were included. Patients who previously underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy were excluded. Data on patient demographics, presentation, and imaging details of STV and aqueductal stenosis were collected. We searched the PubMed database using the following keyword combination: ((("spontaneous ventriculostomy") OR ("spontaneous third ventriculostomy")) OR ("spontaneous ventriculocisternostomy")) including English reports of STV published between 2010 and 2022.

RESULTS

Fourteen cases were included (7 adults, 7 pediatrics), all with history of hydrocephalus. STV occurred in the floor of the third ventricle in 57.1% of the cases, at the lamina terminalis in 35.7%, and at both sites in 1 case. Eleven publications reporting 38 cases of STV were identified from 2009 to date. Minimum follow-up period was 10 months and maximum follow-up is 77 months.

CONCLUSIONS

In cases of chronic obstructive hydrocephalus, neurosurgeons should be minded with the possibility of the presence of an STV on cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging leading to arrested hydrocephalus. The delayed flow at the aqueduct of Sylvius might not be the only determinant of the necessity of cerebrospinal fluid diversion and the presence of an STV should be factored into the neurosurgeon's decision considering the patient's clinical picture.

Clinical Outcome of Endoscopic Procedure in Patients with Shunt Malfunction

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to analyze the clinical outcomes of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and endoscopic septostomy when shunt malfunction occurs in a patient who has previously undergone placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

METHODS

From 2001 to 2020 at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, patients who underwent ETV or endoscopic septostomy for shunt malfunction were retrospectively analyzed. Initial diagnosis (etiology of hydrocephalus), age at first shunt insertion, age at endoscopic procedure, magnetic resonance or computed tomography image, subsequent shunting data, and follow-up period were included.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients were included in this retrospective study. Twenty-nine patients, 18 males and 11 females, with shunt malfunction underwent ETV. At the time of shunting, the age ranged from 1 day to 15.4 years (mean, 2.4 years). The mean age at the time of ETV was 13.1 years (range, 0.7 to 29.6 years). Nineteen patients remained shunt revision free. The 5-year shunt revisionfree survival rate was 69% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.88). Seven patients, three males and four females, with shunt malfunction underwent endoscopic septostomy. At the time of shunting, the age ranged from 0.2 to 12 years (mean, 3.9 years). The mean age at the time of endoscopic septostomy was 11.9 years (range, 0.5 to 29.5 years). Four patients remained free of shunt revision or addition. The 5-year shunt revision-free survival rate was 57% (95% CI, 0.3-1.0). There were no complications associated with the endoscopic procedures.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study demonstrate that ETV or endoscopic septostomy can be effective and safe in patients with shunt malfunction.

Morphological evaluation of the normal and hydrocephalic third ventricle on cranial magnetic resonance imaging in children: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Third ventricle morphological changes reflect changes in the ventricular system in pediatric hydrocephalus, so visual inspection of the third ventricle shape is standard practice. However, normal pediatric reference data are not available.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate both the normal development of the third ventricle in the 0-18-year age group and changes in its biometry due to hydrocephalus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For this retrospective study, we selected individuals ages 0-18 years who had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from 2012 to 2020. We included 700 children (331 girls) who had three-dimensional (3-D) T1-weighted sequences without and 25 with hydrocephalus (11 girls). We measured the distances between the anatomical structures limiting the third ventricle by dividing the third ventricle into anterior and posterior regions. We made seven linear measurements and three index calculations using 3DSlicer and MRICloud pipeline, and we analyzed the results of 23 age groups in normal and hydrocephalic patients using SPSS (v. 23).

RESULTS

Salient findings are: (1) The posterior part of the third ventricle is more affected by both developmental and hydrocephalus-related changes. (2) For third ventricle measurements, gender was insignificant while age was significant. (3) Normal third ventricular volumetric development showed a segmental increase in the 0-18 age range. The hydrocephalic third ventricle volume cut-off value in this age group was 3 cm³.

CONCLUSION

This study describes third ventricle morphometry using a linear measurement method. The ratios defined in the midsagittal plane were clinically useful for diagnosing the hydrocephalic third ventricle. The linear and volumetric reference data and ratios are expected to help increase diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing normal and hydrocephalic third ventricles.

Failure of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an alternative to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Careful patient selection is critical as patient age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and previous shunting have been shown to influence ETV success rates. Intraoperatively, patient anatomy and medical stability may prevent or limit the completion of the ventriculostomy procedure, and findings such as a patulous third ventricular floor or cisternal scarring may portend a lower chance of successful hydrocephalus treatment. Patients in whom a ventriculostomy is completed may still experience continued symptoms of hydrocephalus or CSF leak, representing an early ETV failure. In other patients, the ETV may prove a durable treatment of hydrocephalus for several months or even years before recurrence of hydrocephalus symptoms. The failure pattern for ETV is different than that of shunting, with a higher early failure rate but improved long-term failure-free survival rates. The risk factors for failure, along with the presentation and management of failure, deserve review.

Differentiation of Chiari malformation type 1 and spontaneous intracranial hypotension using objective measurements of midbrain sagging

OBJECTIVE

Chiari malformation type 1 (CM-1) and spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) are causes of headache in which cerebellar tonsillar ectopia (TE) may be present. An accurate method for differentiating these conditions on imaging is needed to avoid diagnostic confusion. Here, the authors sought to determine whether objective measurements of midbrain morphology could distinguish CM-1 from SIH on brain MRI.

METHODS

This is a retrospective case-control series comparing neuroimaging in consecutive adult subjects with CM-1 and SIH. Measurements obtained from brain MRI included previously reported measures of brain sagging: TE, slope of the third ventricular floor (3VF), pontomesencephalic angle (PMA), mamillopontine distance, lateral ventricular angle, internal cerebral vein-vein of Galen angle, and displacement of iter (DOI). Clivus length (CL), an indicator of posterior fossa size, was also measured. Measurements for the CM-1 group were compared to those for the entire SIH population (SIHall) as well as a subgroup of SIH patients with > 5 mm of TE (SIHTE subgroup).

RESULTS

Highly significant differences were observed between SIHall and CM-1 groups in the following measures: TE (mean ± standard deviation, 3.1 ± 5.7 vs 9.3 ± 3.5 mm), 3VF (-16.8° ± 11.2° vs -2.1° ± 4.6°), PMA (44.8° ± 13.1° vs 62.7° ± 9.8°), DOI (0.2 ± 4.1 vs 3.8 ± 1.6 mm), and CL (38.3 ± 4.5 vs 44.0 ± 3.3 mm; all p < 0.0001). Eight (16%) of 50 SIH subjects had TE > 5 mm; in this subgroup (SIHTE), a cutoff value of < -15° for 3VF and < 45° for PMA perfectly discriminated SIH from CM-1 (sensitivity and specificity = 1.0). DOI showed perfect specificity (1.0) in detecting SIH among both groups. No subjects with SIH had isolated TE without other concurrent findings of midbrain sagging.

CONCLUSIONS

Measures of midbrain sagging, including cutoff values for 3VF and PMA, discriminate CM-1 from SIH and may help to prevent misdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.

Third Ventricular Floor Bowing Indicates Surgical Success in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy-Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the prognostic performance of third ventricular floor bowing (TVFB) as a marker for surgical success in patients undergoing endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).

METHODS

We performed a comprehensive literature search for studies comparing ETV success in patients with TVFB compared with those without using PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, and EuropePMC. TVFB was defined as inferior bowing or bulging deformation or convex third ventricular floor. Surgical success was defined as resolution of symptoms post surgery and requires no further intervention for hydrocephalus. The outcome was surgical success in patients with TVFB compared with those without TVFB. The effect estimate was reported as odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS

Five studies comprising 439 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The prevalence of overall surgical success was 42%. The prevalence of surgical success was 85% in patients with TVFB. TVFB was associated with increased success rates (OR 5.94 [95% confidence interval 3.07, 11.5], P < 0.001; I²: 26.04%, P = 0.248). TVFB was associated with sensitivity 0.83, specificity 0.54, positive likelihood ratio 1.8, negative likelihood ratio 0.32, diagnostic OR 6, and area under curve 0.81 (0.77-0.84) for surgical success. Presence of TVFB confers to a 56% rate of surgical success, and no TVFB confers to a rate of 19% surgical success. The association between TVFB and surgical success was not affected by age (coefficient: -0.03, P = 0.474) and aqueductal stenosis (P = -0.05, P = 0.237).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis showed that the presence of TVFB was associated with increased ETV success.

Transependymal Edema as a Predictor of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success in Pediatric Hydrocephalus

BACKGROUND

The Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success Score (ETVSS) is based on the clinical features of hydrocephalus except for radiological findings. A previous study suggested that transependymal edema (TEE) as a radiological finding may be a reliable predictor of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) success in patients of all ages. We aimed to investigate whether TEE on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging can predict ETV success in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Medical and radiological records of all pediatric patients with an initial ETV in our hospital between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

This study included 32 patients with hydrocephalus. The median age at surgery was 10.0 years (interquartile range: 5.6-12.9 years). There were 20 patients in the high ETVSS (90-80) group and 12 patients in the moderate ETVSS (70-50) group. The median follow-up period was 29.0 months (interquartile range: 12.9-46.2 months). The ETV success rate at the final follow-up was 81%. Preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed TEE in 20 patients and third ventricle floor ballooning in 25 patients, of whom 19 (95%) and 22 (88%), respectively, achieved successful ETV. Patients with TEE had a significantly better outcome than patients without TEE (95% vs. 58%, P = 0.018). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the presence of TEE (odds ratio 13.6, 95% confidence interval 1.3-137.5, P = 0.027) is a significant predictor of ETV success.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort with a high or moderate ETVSS, the ETV success rate in patients with TEE was significantly higher than in patients without TEE, suggesting that TEE may be a useful predictor of ETV success in pediatric hydrocephalus.

Fourth ventricle roof angle as a measure of fourth ventricle bowing and a radiographic predictor of brainstem dysfunction in Chiari malformation type I

OBJECTIVE

Chiari malformation type I (CM-I) is a congenital and developmental abnormality that results in tonsillar descent 5 mm below the foramen magnum. However, this cutoff value has poor specificity as a predictor of clinical severity. Therefore, the authors sought to identify a novel radiographic marker predictive of clinical severity to assist in the management of patients with CM-I.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed 102 symptomatic CM-I (sCM-I) patients and compared them to 60 age-matched normal healthy controls and 30 asymptomatic CM-I (aCM-I) patients. The authors used the fourth ventricle roof angle (FVRA) to identify fourth ventricle "bowing," a configuration change suggestive of fourth ventricle outlet obstruction, and compared these results across all three cohorts. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify a predictive cutoff for brainstem dysfunction. Binary logistic regression was used to determine whether bowing of the fourth ventricle was more predictive of brainstem dysfunction than tonsillar descent, clival canal angle, or obex position in aCM-I and sCM-I patients.

RESULTS

The FVRA had excellent interrater reliability (intraclass correlation 0.930, 95% CI 0.905-0.949, Spearman r2 = 0.766, p < 0.0001). The FVRA was significantly greater in the sCM-I group than the aCM-I and healthy control groups (59.3° vs 41.8° vs 45.2°, p < 0.0001). No difference was observed between aCM-I patients and healthy controls (p = 0.347). ROC analysis indicated that an FVRA of 65° had a specificity of 93% and a sensitivity of 50%, with a positive predictive value of 76% for brainstem dysfunction. FVRA > 65° was more predictive of brainstem dysfunction (OR 5.058, 95% CI 1.845-13.865, p = 0.002) than tonsillar herniation > 10 mm (OR 2.564, 95% CI 1.050-6.258, p = 0.039), although increasing age was also associated with brainstem dysfunction (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.011-1.080, p = 0.009). A clival canal angle < 140° (p = 0.793) and obex below the foramen magnum (p = 0.563) had no association with brainstem dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors identified a novel radiographic measure, the FVRA, that can be used to assess fourth ventricular bowing in CM-I and is more predictive of brainstem dysfunction than tonsillar herniation. The FVRA is easy to measure, has excellent interrater variability, and can be a reliable universal radiographic measure. The FVRA will be useful in further describing CM-I radiographically and clinically by identifying patients more likely to be symptomatic as a result of brainstem dysfunction.

Hydrocephalus Caused by Primary Fourth Ventricle Outlet Obstruction: Our Experience and Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

Primary fourth ventricle outlet obstruction (PFVOO) is a rare cause of hydrocephalus with an unclear etiopathogenesis, and thus, consensus regarding the recommended treatment protocol is lacking. This study aims to summarize current knowledge of this condition in the light of our own treatment experience.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis was carried out of all patients treated for noncommunicating tetraventricular hydrocephalus between 2006 and 2019, from which a subgroup of patients with PFVOO was created. A literature review of PFVOO cases was also carried out.

RESULTS

A total of 62 patients with PFVOO were discovered, of whom 8 were treated at our institution, representing 3.8% of our patients with noncommunicating hydrocephalus. Patients most commonly presented with headaches, gait disturbance, or symptoms of intracranial hypertension. The mean follow-up duration was 75.4 months among our patients and 29.9 months in the literature. Most patients (54.8%) were treated by endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), with the remainder undergoing suboccipital craniotomy alone (17.7%) or in combination with shunt surgery (9.7%), or endoscopic magendieplasty (12.9%). Treatment failure was noted in 28.6% of ETVs and 9% of craniotomies. No failures were recorded after endoscopic magendieplasty. The risk of treatment failure was found to be significantly higher with ETV compared with other treatment modalities (P < 0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the fact that PFVOO can be defined as an obstructive hydrocephalus, there seems to be a higher risk of ETV failure in such cases. The alternative treatment modalities presented are still recommended. Confirmation of these findings requires a larger multicenter study.

Implication of image guidance in endoscopic third ventriculostomy: Technical note

Background

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an advanced surgical procedure and plays a major role in the management of hydrocephalus. The complications associated with this procedure are grave and unforgiving. Image guidance system (IGS) can help reduce these complications. This technical note describes the technique for utilizing image guidance in carrying out ETV with safety and efficacy.

Methods

The authors have performed ETV on more than 75 cases. We describe a step-by-step technique for the implication of image guidance while performing ETV including the trajectory planning, coregistration, approach, and third ventricular floor perforation. For illustration, we present the case of a 54-year-old female with moderate-intensity headache and central vertigo for 2 months presented with no significant findings on examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed dilated lateral and third ventricles with normal sized fourth ventricle. A diagnosis of aqueductal stenosis was made and ETV was performed under image guidance.

Results

Since 2012, we performed 78 cases of ETV with the help of image guidance. None of the patients had any episode of intraoperative hemorrhage. Two patients (2.56%) had fornix contusions.

Conclusion

Image guidance can help reduce complications and is becoming an essential tool in performing ETV. IGS ETV technique may benefit young neurosurgeons the most and can help them overcome the learning curve with safety.

Third ventricle floor bowing: a useful measurement to predict endoscopic third ventriculostomy success in infantile hydrocephalus

BACKGROUND

Preoperative judgment who will benefit from endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in infantile hydrocephalus remains controversial and no sufficient clue exists. Although ETV success score (ETVSS) is a useful scale in predicting ETV success in hydrocephalus, its efficacy in infants younger than 1 year old has been limited. This study aimed to verify the efficacy of a newly defined sign, "third ventricle floor bowing (TVFB)," in predicting ETV success in infantile hydrocephalus for the first time and discuss the mechanism of this sign and its clinical meanings.

METHODS

Between January 2013 and April 2018, hydrocephalic infants (age ≤ 12 months) with third ventricle floor bowing were treated endoscopically in the Department of Neurosurgery, West China Hospital. The medical records of these patients were reviewed. Additionally, we undertook a detailed review of the reported data on the treatment of infantile hydrocephalus with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).

RESULTS

A total of 42 infants underwent ETV alone in our institution, with a median age of 7.3 ± 3.8 months. Common etiologies included postinfectious (26.2%), arachnoid cyst (14.3%), aqueductal stenosis (11.9%), and congenital condition (11.9%). The complications included seizure (2.4%), CSF leak (2.4%), and subdural effusion (2.4%). During the average follow-up of 21.7 ± 13.1 months, the ETV success rate predicted by third ventricle floor bowing (TVFB) was 71.4%, which was higher than 6-month success rate predicted by the ETVSS (52.3%). However, it was difficult to reach statistical significance (P = 0.072) due to the limited sample size and further studies with larger sample size were needed.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests TVFB can serve as a useful method for selecting ETV candidates in infantile hydrocephalus preoperatively. And we speculate that good ventricle compliance and pressure difference between the ventricle and subarachnoid space are essential elements in ensuring ETV success.

Prediction of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) success with preoperative third ventricle floor bowing (TVFB): a supplement to ETV success score

Preoperative judgement of which children is likely to benefit from endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is still the most difficult challenge. This study aimed to compare the efficiency of third ventricular floor bowing (TVFB) and ETV success score (ETVSS) in selecting ETV candidates and achieve a better preoperative patient selection method for ETV based on our institutional experience. Children (≤ 16 years old) with newly diagnosed hydrocephalus treated with ETV between January 2013 and June 2018 were included in this prospective study. Patients with TVFB will receive ETV procedure in the pediatric subgroup of our department. ETVSS was calculated in every patient. The ETVSS predicted ETV success rate and the actual ETV success rate in our institution were compared and further analyzed. One hundred twenty-nine children with TVFB were enrolled in our study. The mean age at ETV was 5.84 ± 5.17 years (range, 0.04-16). Brain tumors, aqueductal stenosis, and inflammatory are the most common hydrocephalus etiologies. The most common complication was noninfectious fever (3.1%). During the average follow-up of 19.5 ± 14.95 months, twenty-five patients had depicted ETV failure. The actual ETV success rate (81%) in our study was higher than the success rate (69%) predicted by ETVSS. TVFB is a pragmatic, efficient, and simple model to predict the ETV outcome. We suggest that for hydrocephalic patients with preoperative third ventricular floor bowing, ETV should be the first-treatment choice regardless of the ETV success score. And for patients without such sign, ETVSS should be applied to select ETV candidates.

Acute Hydrocephalus Resulting from Neuromyelitis Optica: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Neuromyelitis optica is an autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that predominantly affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. The neuropathologic hallmark of the disease is deposits of antibodies and complement, loss of astrocytes, secondary degeneration of oligodendrocytes and neurons, and necrotic lesions with infiltration of neutrophilic and eosinophilic granulocytes. It can rarely be associated with hydrocephalus, but the cause and mechanisms that result in hydrocephalus are not clear.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 35-year-old woman with a history of neuromyelitis optica presented with a 5-day history of progressively worsening lethargy, fatigue, somnolence, and headaches. Imaging demonstrated new hydrocephalus without evidence of obstruction, and extensive periventricular enhancement concerning for active demyelination. She underwent placement of a ventriculostomy, and subsequently underwent endoscopic biopsy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Pathology confirmed demyelination secondary to neuromyelitis optica.

CONCLUSIONS

This case provides evidence of the rapid development of hydrocephalus in association with periventricular inflammation, without aqueductal stenosis. In a state of aquaporin-4 dysfunction such as in neuromyelitis optica, altered cerebrospinal fluid resorption could lead to acute hydrocephalus by a nonobstructive mechanism.

Outcomes and complications of different surgical treatments for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Different CSF diversion procedures (ventriculoperitoneal, ventriculoatrial, and lumboperitoneal shunting) have been utilized for the treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. More recently, endoscopic third ventriculostomy has been suggested as a reasonable alternative in some studies. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess overall rates of favorable outcomes and adverse events for each of these treatments. An additional objective was to determine the outcomes and complication rates in relation to the type of valve utilized (fixed vs programmable).

METHODS

Multiple databases (PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus) were searched for studies involving patients with idiopathic ventriculomegaly, no secondary cause of hydrocephalus, opening pressure < 25 mm Hg on high-volume tap or drainage trial, and age > 60 years. Outcomes included the proportion of patients who showed improvement in gait, cognition, and bladder function. Adverse events considered in the analysis included postoperative ischemic/hemorrhagic complications, subdural fluid collections, seizures, need for revision surgery, and infection.

RESULTS

A total of 33 studies, encompassing 2461 patients, were identified. More than 75% of patients experienced improvement after shunting, without significant differences among the different techniques utilized. Overall, gait improvement was observed in 75% of patients, cognitive function improvement in more than 60%, and improvement of incontinence in 55%. Adjustable valves were associated with a reduction in revisions (12% vs 32%) and subdural collections (9% vs 22%) as compared to fixed valves.

CONCLUSIONS

Outcomes did not differ significantly among different CSF diversion techniques, and overall improvement was reported in more than 75% of patients. The use of programmable valves decreased the incidence of revision surgery and of subdural collections after surgery, potentially justifying the higher initial cost associated with these valves.

Natural History of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in Adults: Serial Evaluation with High-Resolution CISS

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a well-accepted treatment choice for hydrocephalus and is used most frequently with a known impediment to CSF flow between the third ventricle and basal cisterns. However, there are scarce data on the imaging evolution of the defect in the floor of the third ventricle and how this affects patency rates and clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess whether, and how, the endoscopic third ventriculostomy defect changes in size with time.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All high-resolution endoscopic third ventriculostomy protocol MRIs performed between 2009 through 2014 were retrospectively identified. Two fellowship-trained neuroradiologists, blinded to clinical information, independently reviewed all retrospective cases.

RESULTS

A total of 98 imaging studies were included from 34 patients. The average change in the area throughout the studied period was 0.02 mm²/day (7.5 mm²/year), with a higher increase in size noted in the first 3 postsurgical months, with a gradual decrease in the degree of defect-size change. Use of the NICO Myriad device was correlated with the area of the endoscopic third ventriculostomy defect on the last follow-up, demonstrating a larger final defect size in patients in whom the surgical technique included debridement of the endoscopic third ventriculostomy defect walls with the NICO Myriad device (28.21 versus 11.25 mm, P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

High-resolution MR imaging with sagittal CISS images is useful in the postoperative evaluation of endoscopic third ventriculostomies. Such findings may prove useful in determining the optimal duration of follow-up with MR imaging of patients who have undergone endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

The third ventricle of the human fetal brain: Normative data and pathologic correlation. A 3D transvaginal neurosonography study

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study are to describe (a) the technical aspects and (b) the anatomical boundaries of the fetal third ventricle (3V) on the midsagittal sonographic view and to assess (c) different biometric parameters in normal and abnormal fetuses and (d) and their reproducibility.

METHODS

This study included 67 normal and 50 CNS anomalies fetuses which include (1) obstructive severe ventriculomegaly (SVM; atrial width ≥ 15 mm), (2) moderate ventriculomegaly (10-14.9 mm), and (3) corpus callosum agenesis (ACC). All underwent transvaginal 3D neurosonography of the midsagittal view of the 3V. The following parameters were measured: area, perimeter, craniocaudal and anteroposterior (AP) diameters, interthalamic adhesion diameter (ITAD), wedge angle, and the ratio between the last 2 variables (ITAD/WA). Repeatability was also assessed.

RESULTS

The ITAD and the ITAD/WA are significantly different between normal fetuses and the SVM (P ≤ .001). Interthalamic adhesion diameter of ≤7.1 mm is able to identify SVM with 98.6% accuracy (CI: 0.92-0.99). In ACC cases, the AP diameter is significantly shorter than both normal fetuses and ventriculomegaly. Intraobserver/interobserver reliability was good for most variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Transvaginal neurosonography enables visualization of the normal and abnormal fetal third ventricle. An ITAD <7.1 identifies aqueductal stenosis as the likely etiology of severe ventriculomegaly with an accuracy of 98.6%.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in children with a fiber optic neuroendoscopy

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) provides a shunt-free treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus children. With rapidly evolving technology, the semi-rigid fiber optic neuroendoscopy shows a potential application in ETV by blunt fenestration. A retrospective analysis of our experience is reviewed.

METHODS

The authors review infants and children who underwent ETV using this technique from June 2004 to June 2016 with radiological and clinical follow-up done by a single surgeon. Patients who underwent ETV with channel scope were excluded. Demographic variables and operative reports were collected. Improvement of preoperative symptoms and avoidance of additional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion procedures were considered a success. The ETV success score (ETVSS) was used to correlate with clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 79 patients were included with a mean age of 8.3 ± 5.5 years, and 40.5% were female. The mean clinical and radiographic follow-up was 38.6 ± 40.9 months. The overall complication rate was 6.3%, while 73.4% were considered successful. The ETV failure cases received conversion to ventriculoperitoneal shunt or redo of ETV with a median time of 2 months. The mean ETV success score was 74.3 ± 11.8 with positive correlation between success rate (P < 0.05). Kaplan-Meier failure-free survival rates of 30-day, 90-day, 6-month, 1-year, and 2-year were 89.9, 83.5, 78.5, 75.9, and 74.6%. Eight patients required redo ETV, and five of these patients required eventual shunt placements. Approximately 61.9% of failure occurred within 3 months. Patients with post-intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) /infection, and age younger than 12 months had the poorest outcome (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Blunt dissection of the third ventricle floor under endoscopic vision with the stylet tip of a fiber optic neuroendoscopy is safe and requires less equipment in the pediatric population. This technique is successful with an optimistic long-term outcome except for infants and the post-IVH and infectious subgroups.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy and repeat endoscopic third ventriculostomy in pediatric patients: the Dutch experience

OBJECTIVE After endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), some patients develop recurrent symptoms of hydrocephalus. The optimal treatment for these patients is not clear: repeat ETV (re-ETV) or CSF shunting. The goals of the study were to assess the effectiveness of re-ETV relative to initial ETV in pediatric patients and validate the ETV success score (ETVSS) for re-ETV. METHODS Retrospective data of 624 ETV and 93 re-ETV procedures were collected from 6 neurosurgical centers in the Netherlands (1998-2015). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to provide an adjusted estimate of the hazard ratio for re-ETV failure relative to ETV failure. The correlation coefficient between ETVSS and the chance of re-ETV success was calculated using Kendall's tau coefficient. Model discrimination was quantified using the c-statistic. The effects of intraoperative findings and management on re-ETV success were also analyzed. RESULTS The hazard ratio for re-ETV failure relative to ETV failure was 1.23 (95% CI 0.90-1.69; p = 0.20). At 6 months, the success rates for both ETV and re-ETV were 68%. ETVSS was significantly related to the chances of re-ETV success (τ = 0.37; 95% bias corrected and accelerated CI 0.21-0.52; p < 0.001). The c-statistic was 0.74 (95% CI 0.64-0.85). The presence of prepontine arachnoid membranes and use of an external ventricular drain (EVD) were negatively associated with treatment success, with ORs of 4.0 (95% CI 1.5-10.5) and 9.7 (95% CI 3.4-27.8), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Re-ETV seems to be as safe and effective as initial ETV. ETVSS adequately predicts the chance of successful re-ETV. The presence of prepontine arachnoid membranes and the use of EVD negatively influence the chance of success.

Simplest radiological measurement related to clinical success in endoscopic third ventriculostomy

OBJECTIVE

Radiologic criteria for a successful endoscopic third ventriculostomy are not clearly defined and there is an ongoing need for determining simplest and strongest radiological criteria for this purpose. This paper aims to determine the easiest radiological parameter related to surgical outcome METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2015 all patients receiving endoscopic third ventriculostomy with various indications were reviewed and 29 patients whose preoperative and early postoperative 3D-CISS images were available were studied. There were 13 males and 16 females, and there were 11 pediatric cases (mean age: 9.90±5.2; range: 2-18). The mean age of the entire population was 26.58±18.32 (range: 2-68 years). Measurements were performed using the ruler tool of a freely distributed medical imaging software. Simple ruler measurements of ventricular floor depression, lamina terminalis bowing, anterior commissure to tuber cinereum distance, mamillary body to lamina terminalis distance, third ventricular width, frontal horn width and occipital horn width were recorded and compared between successful and failed interventions.

RESULTS

Of the ventriculostomies, 22 (75.9%) were considered successful and 7 (24.1%) as failed at the last follow-up visit. Of the measurements performed, only those related to the third ventricle itself were significantly higher in the failed group. There were no association with lateral ventricular measurements.

CONCLUSION

Simple ruler measurements of the suggested distances significantly correlate with clinical success. After validating our results with higher number of patients, complex measurements and calculations to determine the link between clinical success and radiological success of ventriculostomy procedures may not be needed.

Lower rates of symptom recurrence and surgical revision after primary compared with secondary endoscopic third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus secondary to aqueductal stenosis in adults

OBJECT

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is the treatment of choice for obstructive hydrocephalus; however, the success of ETV in patients who have previously undergone shunt placement remains unclear. The present study analyzed 103 adult patients with aqueductal stenosis who underwent ETV for obstructive hydrocephalus and evaluated the effect of previous shunt placement on post-ETV outcomes.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of 151 consecutive patients who were treated between 2007 and 2013 with ETV for hydrocephalus. One hundred three (68.2%) patients with aqueductal stenosis causing obstructive hydrocephalus were included in the analysis. Postoperative ETV patency and aqueductal and cisternal flow were assessed by high-resolution, gradient-echo MRI. Post-ETV Mini-Mental State Examination, Timed Up and Go, and Tinetti scores were compared with preoperative values. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed comparing the post-ETV outcomes in patients who underwent a primary (no previous shunt) ETV (n = 64) versus secondary (previous shunt) ETV (n = 39).

RESULTS

The majority of patients showed significant improvement in symptoms after ETV; however, no significant differences were seen in any of the quantitative tests performed during follow-up. Symptom recurrence occurred in 29 (28.2%) patients after ETV, after a median of 3.0 (interquartile range 0.8–8.0) months post-ETV failure. Twenty-seven (26.2%) patients required surgical revision after their initial ETV. Patients who received a secondary ETV had higher rates of symptom recurrence (p = 0.003) and surgical revision (p = 0.003), particularly in regard to additional shunt placement/revision post-ETV (p = 0.005). These differences remained significant after multivariate analysis for both symptom recurrence (p = 0.030) and surgical revision (p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with obstructive hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis exhibit symptomatic improvement after ETV, with a relatively low failure rate. Patients with a primary history of shunt placement who undergo ETV as a secondary intervention are at increased risk of symptom recurrence and need for surgical revision post-ETV.

Infundibular Recess Angle Reduction After Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy: Does It Reflect Clinical Success?

BACKGROUND

Although the ventricular size is significantly reduced after endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in most successfully treated patients, ventricular size reduction is not always seen after a successful ETV. Practical and reliable radiologic parameters are still needed to assess the clinical success of an ETV.

METHODS

We retrieved the clinical and radiologic data of patients who underwent an ETV. Patients with the following criteria were included: (1) preoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies available, (2) postoperative magnetic resonance imaging studies done within the first 2 postoperative weeks, and (3) the infundibular recess clearly visible on preoperative and postoperative sagittal magnetic resonance imaging. Preoperative and postoperative measurements of the angle of the infundibular recess of the third ventricle were performed on midsagittal T1-weighted, T2-weighted, fast imaging employing steady-state acquisition, or constructive interference in steady state images.

RESULTS

The extent of reduction of the infundibular recess angle predicted the clinical outcome of ETV during the early postoperative period with a high degree of accuracy. The average reduction was about 48% in successful procedures versus only 15% in failed procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

The degree of reduction of the angle of the infundibular recess of the third ventricle correlated with the amount of third ventricular decompression after ETV. Most importantly, such a reduction was noted to occur during the early postoperative period when radiologic changes are less pronounced. Assessment of change in infundibular recess angle measurement is easy to perform and may prove helpful in cases with no clear-cut clinical evidence of success of ETV.

Dandy-walker malformation and down syndrome association: good developmental outcome and successful endoscopic treatment of hydrocephalus

The association of Down syndrome (DS) with Dandy Walker malformation (DWM) is extremely rare, with only 3 cases reported to date. All cases reported have shown a bad life expectancy and a bad developmental outcome. The present case reveals the possibility of a good prognosis. A 19-month-old male patient had successful endoscopic hydrocephalus treatment and a good developmental outcome. He probably had a better outcome because of good DS and DWM prognostic parameters. Our patient suffered from a DWM with vermis identification of 2 fissures and 3 lobes and a DS with a well-preserved tonus, which was not associated with other congenital systemic defects. We may conclude that the prognosis of DS-DWM association may separately depend on the degree of clinical and neurological involvement of each malformation.

Endoscopic 3rd ventriculocisternostomy: procedural complications and long-term dysfunctions?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become the treatment of choice for managing non-communicating hydrocephalus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the morbi-mortality of this procedure and its long-term outcome.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective study involved 82 consecutive patients treated for non-communicating hydrocephalus by ETV, in a single centre, between June 1999 and November 2008. The main criterion of efficacy was clinical improvement with shunt independence. The secondary criteria were the ventricular size (third and lateral ventricles) outcome and the procedural morbidity and mortality. In order to determine the predictive factors of dysfunction, a uni- and multivariate analysis was conducted.

RESULTS

Divided in two groups, the overall success rate was 65.4% in the paediatric group (n=26) and 83.9% in the adult group (n=56), after respectively a mean follow-up of 59.1±36.7 and 49.3±27.7 months. A procedural complication occurred in 5 patients (6.1%), with no procedure-related death. The predictive factors of ETV failure were an infectious aetiology and an age less than 16. Changes in ventricular size and success rate were independent.

CONCLUSIONS

ETV is an effective procedure at long-term for the management of non-communicating hydrocephalus with low morbidity. Therefore, it should be considered as first-line treatment. Cerebrospinal meningitis infection and young age both expose patients to possible dysfunction.

The role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of hydrocephalus

OBJECT

Hydrocephalus remains a major public health problem. Conventional treatment has relied on extracranial shunting of CSF to another systemic site, but this approach is associated with a high rate of complications. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a novel treatment for select forms of hydrocephalus that can eliminate the need for implantation of a lifelong ventricular shunt system. However, the indications for ETV are contested and its long-term effectiveness is not well established.

METHODS

The authors selected 100 consecutive patients who underwent ETV for hydrocephalus beginning in 1994. Patients were enrolled and treated at a single institution by a single surgeon. The primary outcome was success of ETV, with success defined as no need for subsequent surgery for hydrocephalus.

RESULTS

Ninety-five patients satisfied the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up period was 5.1 years (median 4.7 years) with follow-up data available for as long as 17 years. Patients commonly presented with headache (85%), ataxia (34%), emesis (29%), and changes in vision (27%). The success rate for ETV was 75%. Twenty-one patients (22%) in the series had malfunctioning shunts preoperatively and 13 (62%) were successfully treated with ETV. Preoperative inferior bowing of the third ventricle floor on MRI was significantly associated with ETV success (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an effective and durable treatment for select patients with hydrocephalus. When successful, the procedure eliminates the lifelong complications associated with implanted ventricular shunts.