Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a condition that occurs when there is too much cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (cavities) of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced in the brain, and is needed by the body to protect the brain and spinal cord, and carry away waste from brain cells. It flows continuously through the ventricles of the brain and over the surface of the brain and spinal cord. Any excess CSF usually drains away from the brain and is absorbed by the body. For people with hydrocephalus, this doesn't happen, and the fluid instead builds up in the ventricles. In United State incidence of congenital hydrocephalus is 3 per 1,000 live births. There are two kinds of hydrocephalus.

Congenital hydrocephalus is present at birth. Causes include genetic problems and problems with how the fetus develops. An unusually large head is the main sign of congenital hydrocephalus. Acquired hydrocephalus can occur at any age. Causes can include head injuries, strokes, infections, tumors and bleeding in the brain. Other possible causes comprise complications of early birth such as intraventricular hemorrhage, diseases such as meningitis, tumors, traumatic head injury, or subarachnoid hemorrhage, which block the exit of CSF from the ventricles to the cisterns or remove the passageway for CSF into the cisterns.

Symptoms of increased intracranial pressure may include headaches, vomiting, nausea, papilledema, sleepiness, or coma. In infancy, the most obvious indication of hydrocephalus is often a rapid increase in head circumference or an unusually large head size. Other symptoms may include irritability, downward deviation of the eyes (also called "sunsetting"), and seizures. Elevated intracranial pressure may effect in uncal and/or cerebellar tonsill herniation, with ensuing life threatening brain stem compression. For details on other manifestations of increased intracranial pressure.

Treatment usually involves surgery to insert a shunt. This system diverts the flow of CSF from the CNS to another area of the body where it can be absorbed as part of the normal circulatory process. A shunt is a flexible but sturdy plastic tube. A shunt system consists of the shunt, a catheter, and a valve. One end of the catheter is placed within a ventricle inside the brain or in the CSF outside the spinal cord. The other end of the catheter is commonly placed within the abdominal cavity. Medicine and rehabilitation therapy can also assist. Another surgical choice ventriculostomy is sometimes used when there's an obstruction of flow between ventricles.