Hydrocephalus: April 2012

Tuesday, 24 April 2012

Prognosis

Every disease has prognosis. Prognosis is a prediction of the future, the outcome of the disease, and the successful of the treatment. It is only a prediction of the doctor, because of that the prognosis can be true or otherwise.

The prognosis of the patient who undergoes the treatment is difficult to predict, although there is some correlation between the specific cause of hydrocephalus and the patient's outcome. It depends on how worse the hydrocephalus disease and time that hydrocephalus’s patients get the treatment from doctor.

The outcome of the hydrocephalus’s patient is better if they get the treatment earlier. But, if the patient gets the treatment late and the hydrocephalus disease is worse by that time, the patient may have brain damage and can cause death. Without treatment also, up to 6 in 10 people with hydrocephalus will die.

CHILDREN

For the children, if they do not get the treatment, it can affect both physical and cognitive development. Even when undergo treatments, some children who have hydrocephalus disease may have lower intelligence, memory and visual problem.

However, many children diagnosed with hydrocephalus treatment, therapies, and educational intervention lives like a normal children with a few limitation. Treatment by an interdisciplinary team of medical professional, rehabilitation specialist, and educational expert is critical to positive outcome. Treatment of patients with hydrocephalus is life-saving and life-sustaining.

NORMAL PRESSURE HYDROCEPHALUS

For the normal pressure hydrocephalus, some may experience temporary improvement even though did not go for treatment. Usually people who did not undergo for the hydrocephalus’s treatment, their condition become worse from day to day.

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0002538/
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/conditions/a/hydrocephalus_3.htm
http://www.onlymyhealth.com/what-prognosis-hydrocephalus-12977615746
http://nervous-system.emedtv.com/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus-prognosis.html

Sunday, 22 April 2012

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Hydrocephalus Disease

1) The common diagnosis test to determined hydrocephalus disease is by using cranial imaging techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or pressure-monitoring techniques.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

2) The diagnosis test of hydrocephalus is based on the answer given by an individual to the doctor about signs and symptoms.

3) The other diagnosis test to determined hydrocephalus disease is neurological exam. In this procedure the neurologist may ask questions and conduct relatively simple tests in the office to judge:

Reflexes

Muscle strength

Muscle tone

Sense of touch

Vision and eye movement

Hearing

Coordination

Balance

Mental status

Mood

Sources:

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hydrocephalus/DS00393/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/adhd-mri.jpg

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/mri-10.jpg

Treatments

Hydrocephalus can be treated with two way which are:

1) Shunt placement

2) Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

SHUNT PLACEMENT

A shunt drains excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another part of the body, such as the abdomen, where it can be more easily absorbed.

The surgical insertion of drainage system called shunt is a treatment for hydrocephalus disease. A shunt is a flexible but sturdy plastic tube.

A shunt system consist of shunt, a catheler, and a valve. Catheler have two end, one of the end of catheler are placed within a ventricle inside the brain or in the CSF outside the spinal cord.

The other one end of catheler place inside the body, usually it placed within the abdominal cavity. However, it also can be placed as a chamber of the heart or areas around the lung where the CSF can drain and be absorbed.

Mean while, a valve located along the catheler. Functions of valve is to maintain one-way flow and regulate the rate of CSF flow.

People who have hydrocephalus usually need a shunt system for the rest of their lives, and regular monitoring is required

VIDEO ON SHUNT PLACEMENT

ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY

The alternative procedure of hydrocephalus's treatment called endoscopic third ventriculostomy. There are only limited number of hydrocephalus's patient that can be treated using this procedure.

During this treatment, the neurosurgeon used a small camera designed to visualize small and difficult to reach surgical areas.

After the target surgical area reaches, the neurosurgeon make a tiny hole in the floor of third ventricle. The tiny hole allowing the CSF to bypass the obstruction and flow toward the site of resorption around the surface of the brain.

VIDEO ON ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY

Complications of surgery

Both surgical procedures can result in complications. Shunt systems can stop draining cerebrospinal fluid or poorly regulate drainage because of mechanical malfunctions, blockage or infections. The passage created during a ventriculostomy can suddenly close.

Any failure requires prompt attention, surgical revisions or other interventions. Signs and symptoms of problems may include: