Third ventriculostomy in communicating hydrocephalus in adult patients -- the role of lumbar and cranial cerebrospinal fluid outflow measurement.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the value of CSF outflow resistance testing as a criterion for endscopic treatment in case of communicating hydrocephalus.

METHODS

12 patients with communicating hydrocephalus were integrated in a prospective study from 1999 - 2001. Under the assumption of different hydromechanical properties of both spinal and cerebral CSF compartment the resorption capacity was measured. V.-p. shunting, ventriculostomy or conservative treatment were performed dependent on the results and clinical outcome was evaluated.

RESULTS

Six patients with pathological lumbar testing underwent primary ventriculo-peritoneal shunting. In 6 of the 12 cases the lumbar CSF resorption capacity was found to be normal and cerebral testing was accomplished. Two patients with normal spinal and cerebral resorption capacity were not operated. In the remaining 4 patients cerebral testing was found to be pathological and ventriculostomy was performed. An improvement of clinical symptoms was observed in patients operated with a v.-p. shunt and in the VCS group as well.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that there is a subgroup of patients with morphological communicating hydrocephalus that is characterized by a functional dissociation of hydromechanical properties of intracranial and spinal CSF compartment. In cases of regular CSF resorption but restricted CSF outflow from the ventricular system to the subarachnoid space ventriculo-peritoneal shunting may be an efficient therapy, but VCS was proved to be an efficient alternative.