Etiology of paediatric hydrocephalus

INTRODUCTION: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion is the most common cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversionary procedure used for the treatment of chronic hydrocephalus. Sterile CSF ascites is a rare complication of VP shunt insertion. This can arise from either an overproduction of CSF or inadequate filtration of CSF at the level of the peritoneum. By either mechanism, the development of CSF ascites requires an intact VP shunt. OBJECTIVE: The authors discuss two paediatric cases diagnosed with suprasellar pilocytic astrocytomas treated with platinum-based chemotherapy, who subsequently developed sterile CSF ascites...

INTRODUCTION: Paediatric low-grade astrocytomas of the fourth ventricle are rare tumours, generally revealed by hydrocephalus. However, some patients present with a history of severe anorexia. It might be a harbinger, which if recognized, could lead to earlier diagnosis. We decided to examine our database in order to evaluate the incidence and signification of anorexia in this context. METHODS: Retrospective monocentric study of cases of low-grade astrocytomas of the fourth ventricle operated between 1991 and 2012 in our paediatric neurosurgery department...

BACKGROUND: Children with the severe form of spina bifida (SBM: spina bifida with myelomeningocele with accompanying hydrocephalus) may manifest attention deficits, and have a similar psychological profile to children with hydrocephalus due to other etiologies. It is unclear to what extent tests to assess attention in SBM are confounded by the accompanying cognitive or visual-motor impairments. The aim of this study was to analyse attention functions by administering two different types of attention tests, one with high and the other with low cognitive and motor requirements...

BACKGROUND: Overdrainage in shunted patients is a known predisposing factor for the formation of hygromas, but little is known about risk factors in endoscopic third ventriculocisternostomy (ETV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analysed data of 34 patients younger than 1 year with obstructive hydrocephalus, undergoing ETV, with respect to incidence, management, outcome and possible risk factors for the formation of hygromas. Hygromas were arbitrarily defined as a collection of cerebrospinal fluid of more than 10 mm in diameter over the paramedian hemispheric convexities, diagnosed by ultrasonography...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the causes of seizures in the newborn period. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Neonatal Unit, Paediatric Department, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, from April 2003 to June 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 200 neonates of either gender who presented with seizures or developed seizures during hospital stay were evaluated for the possible etiological factors...

The aim of the paper was to pinpoint the etiological factors which caused meningitis, and to describe the course of the illness in the patients hospitalized in the years 1991-2000 at the observation ward of the Paediatrics Propaedeutics Clinic of the Paediatrics Institute. Etiological factors were determined in 42 of 80 cases included in the study: in 32 out of 62 purulent meningitis cases and 10 out of 18 aseptic meningitis cases. In purulent meningitis the most commonly isolated pathogens were N. meningitidis (16%), S...

UNLABELLED: The objective was to identify risk factors for shunt infections, and establish the rate of infection for shunt procedures carried out under standardized conditions in a well-defined population. All (407) paediatric shunt operations (primary and revisions) performed within a total population of 630000 inhabitants between January 1, 1986 and December 31, 1996, were analysed retrospectively. 11 shunt infections were diagnosed in 10 patients, giving an overall infection rate of 2...

OBJECTIVE: To know the etiological factors of cerebral palsy (CP) incident during pregnancy and neonatal/perinatal periods. To know evolution of a child with a CP diagnosis. PATIENTS, MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bibliographical review of paediatric and rehabilitation texts and databases in Internet. Elaboration of a data collecting questionnaire for reviewing clinical records of patients treated in Paediatric Rehabilitation between 1996 and 2000. RESULTS: 250 patients records reviewed...

To analyse the clinical characteristics of patients with childhood epileptic encephalopathies, a retrospective study was carried out on paediatric neurology clinic records of a tertiary hospital. Forty-five children with childhood epileptic encephalopathies were identified. Patients were classified according to the international classification of epilepsies and epileptic syndromes, data were collected regarding age at onset, perinatal problems, presence of psychomotor retardation, radiological findings, etiology and response to therapy...