Frequency of success and complications of primary endoscopic third ventriculostomy in infants with obstructive hydrocephalous

Objectives: To determine the success rate and complications of primary endoscopic third ventri-culostomy (ETV) in infants with obstructive hydrocephalous.

Methods: This case series was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery, Medical and Teaching Institute, Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar from July 2016 to June 2018. All consecutive patients with age less than one year who underwent ETV for primary obstructive hydrocephalous, of both gender, were included in the study. The patients were followed up to six months after surgery. The data was entered in a specially designed Performa. Patients’ data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.

Results: We had total 21 patients with age less than one year during the study period. Male patients were 11 (52.4%). Success rate of ETV at six months of follow up was 12 (57.1%). Post-op complications observed were in 9.52% (2/21) cases. One patient had cerebrospinal fluid CSF) leak and the other had significant bleed.

Conclusion: ETV is successful in 57.1% of infants with obstructive type of hydrocephalous. The post op complications in case of ETV are lower than Ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. Therefore, ETV can be offered to infants having obstructive hydrocephalous.