Hydrocephalus

Question 1

What is hydrocephalus?

Answer 1

Excessive accumulation of CSF within the head - caused by a disturbance of formation, flow or absorption of the CSF

The effect of this is dilation of the ventricles like a CSF filled water balloon

Question 2

What are the types of Hydrocephalus?

Answer 2

Communicating hydrocephalus - CoH

• Non-obstructive
• Reabsorption of CSF < Production

Non-communicating hydrocephalus - NCH

• Obstructive
• CSF can’t flow out the ventricles

Question 3

Risk factors for hydrocephalus

Question 4

How would hydrocephalus present in adults?

Answer 4

Headache

Cognitive impairment

Features of raised ICP

Ataxia (impaired co-ordination, balance and speech)

Question 5

What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?

Answer 5

A syndrome of enlarged ventricles in the brain - without raised ICP funnily enough

Question 6

How does normal pressure hydrocephalus present?

Answer 6

Triad of symptoms:

Gait disorder / difficulty walking etc

Cognitive decline / dementia

Urinary incontinence