Value of Continuous Spinal Drainage in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus and Secondary Communicating Hydrocephalus

Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially reversible neurodegenerative disease commonly characterized by a triad of dementia, gait, and urinary disturbance. Advancements in diagnosis and treatment have aided in properly identifying and improving symptoms in patients. However, a large proportion of iNPH patients remain either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Using PubMed searc...

Normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a reversible disorder characterized by gait impairment, subcortical dementia, and urinary urgency and incontinence associated with impaired cerebrospinal fluid circulation and ventriculomegaly. Treatment with shunt surgery is most likely to increase mobility, and may also improve dementia and urinary symptoms. An international, independent study group rece...

Normal pressure hydrocephalus

Results: Forty-one patients underwent an invasive diagnostic procedure for evaluation of suspected NPH; 13 ultimately received shunts, representing an incidence of 1.19/100,000/year. The incidence of sustained definite improvements at 3 years after shunting was only 0.36/ 100,000/year. Definite gait improvement was documented in 75% at 3–6 months after shunt placement, although it dropped to 50...

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

Intracranial cerebrospinal fluid measurement studies in suspected idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus, and brain atrophy.

OBJECTIVE To investigate intracranial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) distribution in patients with a clinical diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). METHODS 24 patients with a clinical diagnosis of INPH were studied. Control groups comprised 17 patients with secondary normal pressure hydrocephalus (SNPH), 21 patients with brain atrophy, and 18 healthy volunteers. Ventricular...