Microscopic supraciliary approach for terminal laminotomy for treatment of hydrocephalus: a preliminary report of eight cases.

AIM Shunting and endoscopic third ventriculostomy for treatment of hydrocephalus have their own complications which make the management of such patients more difficult. We have examined the subfrontal route to fenestrate lamina terminalis in order to achieve relief of hydrocephalus in eight consecutive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eight patients with the diagnosis of hydrocephalus were chosen. A supraciliary approach to the central skull base was used to fenestrate the lamina terminalis to allow cerebrospinal fluid egress from the third ventricle to the basal cisterns. RESULTS Clinical and/or radiological remission of hydrocephalus symptoms were observed in all patients. No complications were encountered in this small series of patients. CONCLUSION Microsurgical third ventriculo-cisternostomy through a supraciliary might be a reasonable alternative to endoscopic third ventriculostomy. However, a more sample size with controlled subjects is required to draw conclusions and comparisons with other techniques of treatment of hydrocephalus.