Stereotactic ventriculoperitoneal shunt for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: technical note.
OBJECTIVE
Lumboperitoneal shunting is the bastion of neurosurgical management for idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). However, recent studies document a high failure rate for this procedure. The present study was designed to explore the feasibility of placing ventriculoperitoneal shunts under stereotactic control into patients with IIH as an alternative to lumboperitoneal shunting.


METHODS
Seven patients with IIH for whom medical management had failed underwent stereotactic implantation of ventriculoperitoneal shunts.


RESULTS
Shunt placement was successful and uncomplicated in each case. Five of seven patients experienced complete resolution of papilledema. The remaining two patients showed resolving papilledema. Six of seven patients experienced resolution of headache. The remaining patient continued to have headaches despite a radionuclide study demonstrating normal shunt function.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that stereotactic ventriculoperitoneal shunting may be a reasonable alternative to lumboperitoneal shunting in those patients with IIH who require surgical intervention.
Tulipan
N
N
Department of Neurosurgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, USA.
Lavin
P J
PJ
Copeland
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019586:Intracranial Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010211:Papilledema / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000295:instrumentation*