Question
A 1-year-old 4-month-old child has been diagnosed with mild to moderate supratentorial hydrocephalus, currently showing no symptoms except occasional twitching of the corners of the mouth, and normal intellectual development. Besides traditional treatment methods, are there any more conservative treatment options?
Answer
Hydrocephalus can be categorized into obstructive and communicating hydrocephalus, with the latter being less common. Traditional treatment for hydrocephalus involves ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery, where a silicone tube is used to connect the ventricles and abdomen, allowing the fluid to drain into the abdominal cavity for absorption. However, this surgery has a high rate of complications, including shunt blockage, dislodgment, breakage, intracranial infection, abdominal infection, and abdominal discomfort. Patients may require multiple surgeries, and as they grow, the length of the shunt tube needs to be adjusted continuously, causing more pain and economic burden. In recent years, internationally recognized as the first-line treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus is endoscopic third ventriculostomy surgery. This involves creating a hole at the bottom of the third ventricle through an endoscope to allow fluid to drain and relieve the hydrocephalus. The advantages of this surgery include minimal trauma, good efficacy, avoidance of repeat surgeries, and greater conformity to physiological requirements. Usually, an isotope examination is required before surgery to determine if it is obstructive hydrocephalus. Due to the expensive equipment and high technical requirements for such surgeries, only a few major hospitals can perform them.