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Endoscopic third ventriculostomy versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement in children with obstructive hydrocephalus
Mersha, Hagos B.
Abstract
Background: Uncertainty persists on the best treatment for patients with obstructive
hydrocephalus: endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) or ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS),
particularly in the younger age groups. The author investigated and compared 1-year
outcomes for ETV and VPS treatment categories at Zewditu Memorial Hospital (ZMH),
Ethiopia.
Methods: This was a retrospective, hospital-based study. The study reviewed 259 paediatric
patients with hydrocephalus in whom VPS or ETV with or without choroid plexus
cauterisation (CPC) was done as a primary treatment, between January 2013 and January
2016 at ZMH. Patients’ medical records, operative notes, and neural tube database records
were used to complete a structured questionnaire. The difference in proportions was
examined using the chi-square test.
Results: Sixty-seven (25.9%) children initially underwent ETV and 192 (74.1%) underwent
VPS placements. The median age was 5 months (range 3 days-168 months). Children who
underwent VPS placement rather than ETV had a statistically significant higher risk of
postoperative infection (27.0% vs 6.1%; P = 0.001), complications (27.0% vs 12.2%; P =
0.025), and a higher but insignificant operative failure rate at 1 year (45.3% vs 38.8%; P =
0.27). Sex and age were not associated with the occurrence of complications, while VPS and
myelomeningocele or encephalocele (MMC/EC) were strongly associated. Complication and
infection were significantly and negatively associated with complication-free 1-year survival
rate (P < 0.001 each), while gender, age, procedure, and cause of hydrocephalus did not show
any association with survival. There was a significant reduction of VPS success rate from
76.9% at 6 months postsurgery to 54.7% at 1 year (P < 0.001), while ETV success rate
remained constant during the same period (66.7% and 61.2%, respectively). Mortality
frequencies for ETV and VPS insertion were 3 (4.5%) and 9 (4.7%), respectively, for a
combined total of 12 deaths (4.6%).
Conclusions: Sex and age were not associated with complications, while VPS and MMC/EC
were strongly associated. Children who underwent VP shunt placement rather than ETV had
a higher risk of postoperative infection and complications, but there was no difference in
operative failure or success rate and mortality rates between the procedures. ETV failure
rate was less likely after 6 months.
Keywords
obstructive hydrocephalus; endoscopic third ventriculostomy; ventriculoperitoneal shunt; children; paediatric surgery; neurosurgery; Ethiopia
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