[Role of the ventriculocisternostomy in the treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus].

44 ventriculo-cisternostomies were carried out on infants and children who manifested non communicating hydrocephalus. They were performed through perforation of the floor of the 3th ventricle with the aid of a leukotomy trochar which was introduced through a frontal ventriculography burr hole, and then guided under X ray control. The study of this group showed that the operation is benign, although the mortality is not null, and is effective except in the case where non communicating hydrocephalus develops after meningeal haemorrhage of meningitis. The late results seem good, but the time lapse is too short for a final conclusion. The preoperative radio-isotopic cisternography does not unable prediction of the cases which will be failures; it does however sometimes make it possible to foresee those which will be successful. The post-operative radio-isotopic cisternography is useful in checking on the permeability of the shunt.