Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Flashcards
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Reversible cause of dementia seen in elderly people
Who is typically affected by normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Elderly people
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus due to?
Impaired absorption of CSF at the arachnoid villi.
What can normal pressure hydrocephalus occur secondary to?
Head injury
Subarachnoid haemorrhage
Meningitis
What are the main presenting features of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
urinary incontinence
dementia and bradyphrenia
gait abnormality
What is bradyphrenia?
Slowed thinking and processing of information
Over how long do symptoms typically present?
A few months
How can normal pressure hydrocephalus be diagnosed?
MRI
What can be seen on imaging of someone with normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus with ventriculomegaly in the absence of, or out of proportion to, sulcal enlargement
What is the definitive test for the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Walking and cognitive assessment before and after large volume CSF removal.
When would a patient be a candidate for surgery?
Patients shows improvement post CSF removal
What is the management of normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Ventriculoperitoneal shunting
What are the possible complcations ventriculoperitoneal shunting?
Seizures
Infection
Intracerebral haemorrhages
