Hydrocephalus

Question 1

What body fluid is involved in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus?

Answer 1

Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)

hydrocephalus can be defined as a congenital or acquired condition caused by an imbalance in the production and absorption of CSF.
-this increase in CSF dilates the ventricles of the brain

Question 2

How does hydrocephalus present when s/s arise in infancy?

Answer 2

Early signs of hydrocephalus in an infant include bulging fontanels, dilated scalp veins, separated sutures, and thinning of skull bones
*general s/s of hydrocephalus in infants include irritability, lethargy, high pitched cry, reflexes that persists past average age of disappearing, altered LOC, spasticity, and vomiting

Question 3

How does hydrocephalus present when s/s arise in childhood?

Answer 3

s/s of hydrocephalus in childhood (older years) include headache on awakening, headache that may improve after emesis r/t eating, strabismus (cross-eyed), lethargy, apathy, confusion, incoherence, and vomiting

Question 4

What are surgical options for treatment of hydrocephalus?

Answer 4

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt)- this when CSF is drained to an extracranial compartment, typically the peritoneum.

External Ventricular Drainage (EVD)- this is when CSF is drained to an external closed system rather than to another body cavity; a shunt may be tried first but if complicated by infection, a external ventricular drainage (EVD) device may be placed instead.

Question 5

When are complications of a VP shunt most likely to occur and what are some examples of complications?

Answer 5

VP shunt complications are most likely to occur 1-2 months after the shunt is placed.

Some complications that may arise are septicemia, bacterial endocarditis, wound infection, shunt nephritis (infection of VP shunt that can progress to ESRD if not treated in a timely manner), and meningitis.