Causes of late death due to hydrocephalus and myelomeningocele.

Analysing 149 late deaths occurring between the years 1958 and 1977, the postoperative survival rate independent of age was in 33% less than three months and another 33% less than one year. The causes of death in the different age groups have been analysed following the scheme proposed by Petren: The most common cause of death was infection (65%), 20% of the children died with an indefinite final diagnosis, but this percentage has decreased since the introduction of computer tomography. Since 1968 the number of late deaths has been reduced mainly because of a decrease of local infections, better follow-up of the children and last but by no means least a better cooperation with the parents.