Our experience in the management of infantile hydrocephalus: a study on thirty-five regrouped cases in Yaounde, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND

Hydrocephalus is a frequent central nervous system disorder in children, and despite its importance, it has not been sufficiently studied in developing countries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A prospective and descriptive study on 35 cases of infantile hydrocephalus was carried out in the neurosurgery unit of the Yaounde Central Hospital, from March 2008 to January 2010.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 6.69±1.58 months, and the majority of them were in the 0-6 months age group (71.43%). The most frequent causes were congenital malformations, with stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius being the most represented (31.43%). As radiological workup, a CT scan was done in more than half of the cases (57.15%), and ventriculo-peritoneal shunting was the main surgical method of management used (94.29%). Infectious complications were observed in 22.86% of our cases.

CONCLUSION

Hydrocephalus is a frequent disorder in this Cameroonian setting affecting mostly the 0-6 months age group. For early diagnosis to be made, the head circumference of neonates should be routinely measured in the labour room and followed-up in all medical visits. To avert complications following surgery, rigorous surgical procedures with effective asepsis and appropriate methods and materials for shunting should be used.