Hydrocephalus Surgery

Hydrocephalus occurs when excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain causes increased swelling and pressure, and can lead to enlargement of the head and cognitive dysfunction. Hydrocephalus surgery places a shunt to divert fluid away from the brain and into other parts of the body to be absorbed.   

Recovery from Hydrocephalus Surgery

Some symptoms such as headaches may disappear immediately because of the release of excess pressure build-up. Generally, your child will be encouraged to gradual return to normal activity. The length of their hospital stay is determined by his or her rate of recovery and availability of support at home.  

By the time of your post-operative visit to the pediatric neurosurgeon, you may notice further improvement. Your surgeon will remove skin sutures (stitches) that are not absorbable, examine the incision, and may evaluate neurological functions.  Dr. Trumble routinely uses absorbable suture to minimize trauma to your child.  

If any neurological problems remain, rehabilitation may be necessary to maximize your child’s improvement. Follow-up tests may also be required including: ultrasound, CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or plain x-rays to ensure the shunt is working correctly. Please notify the neurosurgeon if problems occur, especially if your child experiences any of the following symptoms:

• Redness, tenderness, pain or swelling of the skin along the length of the tube or incision
• Unusual irritability or drowsiness
• Nausea, vomiting, headache, or double vision
• Fever
• Abdominal pain.  

To learn more about Hydrocephalus Surgery visit our Hydrocephalus Surgery FAQ's page. 

Pediatric endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a surgical procedure for children who have been diagnosed with obstructive or non-communicating hydrocephalus. It is an alternative surgical procedure to shunting, the most common treatment for hydrocephalus, and creates a bypass for the cerebro-spinal fluid in the head to flow over the surface of the brain where it is reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This eliminates the need for a shunt. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is helpful to children with hydrocephalus that is caused by a blockage of the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid.

Who might benefit from an endoscopic third ventriculostomy?

High success rate for this procedure include children with:

• hydrocephalus in myelomeningocele 
• hydrocephalus associated with brain tumors
• obstructive hydrocephalus with other causes  

Low success rates for this procedure include:

• those with communicating hydrocephalus   
• children under the age of 2 years with hydrocephalus
• patients with hydrocephalus who were previously treated with whole brain irradiation or have a history of infections  

What should I expect after the procedure?

After surgery your child will be carefully monitored as they recover from the effects of the anesthesia. The surgeon will immediately update you on how your child is doing and provide guidance on when you can visit them. On average, a child will need to remain in the hospital for 2-3 days to ensure the best possible recovery. When your child is drinking well, has been up walking around successfully, has his/her pain under control and there is evidence that the surgery was effective, you can take them home. 

Is An Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy The Right Choice For My Child?

Only a board-certified pediatric neurosurgeon can make that determination based upon your child’s unique medical needs. To take the first step, simply call us at (407) 236-0006 and we will set up an appointment that works with your schedule.  We make every effort to schedule appointments within a week of referral.

View Dr. Trumble's clinical presentation on Pediatric Hydrocephalus.  (Viewer Discretion Advised: The presentation contains surgical images)