Question

A two-month-old girl cannot walk, has an enlarged head, and has not shown any other obvious symptoms. A few days ago, after a thorough examination, the doctor diagnosed her with severe obstructive hydrocephalus of the intestinal type, accompanied by mild cerebral palsy. What were the previous treatments and their effects?

Answer

For progressive hydrocephalus with a significantly reduced skull size and cortical thickness below 1cm, surgical intervention can be considered. The surgery can be categorized into procedures to eliminate the causes of ventriculo-intestinal obstruction, such as cerebrospinal fluid shunting or dilation techniques, median foramen incision, and intracranial space-occupying inflammation resection. Cerebrospinal fluid shunting is performed to establish a recirculation pathway for cerebrospinal fluid, eliminating its accumulation, and is suitable for both communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus. Common shunting procedures include lateral ventricle to cerebellar cistern, third ventricle shunt creation, lateral ventricle to abdominal cavity, superior sagittal sinus, atrium, and external jugular vein shunts. Cerebral palsy can be treated with rehabilitation training after hydrocephalus surgery, and the child will gradually improve with treatment.