Clinical Experience of Infantile Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus Treated with Ventriculo-Peritoneal Shunt

OBJECTIVE Infantile posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (IPHH) is the most common cause of infantile acquired hydrocephalus. We present and discuss our experience of treatment of six IPHH patients treated by a ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt. METHODS Six preterm infants treated by a VP shunt due to germinal matrix hemorrhage and hydrocephalus were included in our study. External ventricular drainage (EVD) was performed in patients with symptomatic ventricular dilatation, and a VP shunt was placed in the case of no improvement of the ventricular index despite several rounds of EVD. Radiographic findings and surgical outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS Four patients were male and two were female. Mean gestational age was 25 weeks and mean weight at birth was 868.3 g. One patient had a Papile grade II (16.7%) hemorrhage, three had a grade III (50%) hemorrhage, and two had a grade IV (33.3%) hemorrhage. EVD complications (one case of ventriculitis and one case of a ventricular abscess) occurred in two patients. VP shunt complications occurred in two patients (33.3%). Three cases had an isolated 4th ventricle; two of these cases had a VP shunt placed whereas the other case had a VP shunt placed in addition to aqueductoplasty using a neuroendoscope. At the last follow-up, three of the six patients had severe neurodevelopmental delay, two had mild neurodevelopmental delay, and one had normal development status. CONCLUSION In our study, although it is difficult to present the significant result for management of IPHH, we think that varied efforts are required to treat IPHH patients.