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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suggest Treatment For Congenital Hydrocephalus

I was born in June of 1964 with congenital hydrocephalus. VA shunt in August of that year. Two revisions in 1966, third and final revision (so far) in 1973. In 1977 dx d with arrested hydrocephalus. Was told to wait and see what happens in 1977. Been waiting and seeing ever since. Likelihood of needing a new shunt or revision?
Mon, 16 Feb 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

Congenital hydrocephalus is a condition where there is increase brain fluid as you might be aware and this needs to be drained properly using surgical placement of shunts. As you have had shunt surgeries many years back, it will help to see the present situation of the hydrocephalus by doing a brain scan. Since there was arrested hydrocephalus that happens due to aqueductal stenosis, in 1977 which was 37 years back, it is important to know the developments in recent years.

There are 3 methods presently to treat arrested hydrocephalus
Monitoring
Performing an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV)
Implanting a shunt

If you have been monitored for 37 years and there is no sudden development of changes or increase in clinical symptoms then there is no need of doing endoscopic thid ventriculostomy or revision of shunt.
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Suggest Treatment For Congenital Hydrocephalus

Hi, Thanks for writing in. Congenital hydrocephalus is a condition where there is increase brain fluid as you might be aware and this needs to be drained properly using surgical placement of shunts. As you have had shunt surgeries many years back, it will help to see the present situation of the hydrocephalus by doing a brain scan. Since there was arrested hydrocephalus that happens due to aqueductal stenosis, in 1977 which was 37 years back, it is important to know the developments in recent years. There are 3 methods presently to treat arrested hydrocephalus Monitoring Performing an endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) Implanting a shunt If you have been monitored for 37 years and there is no sudden development of changes or increase in clinical symptoms then there is no need of doing endoscopic thid ventriculostomy or revision of shunt.