Choroid plexectomy reduces neurosurgical intervention in patients with hydranencephaly.
BACKGROUND
The removal of the choroid plexus from the lateral ventricles was attempted by Dandy in the early 20th century but later discarded as complications arose and other methods of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion were introduced. We compare our experience with a variation of this operation to CSF diversion in patients with hydranencephaly or near hydranencephaly.


METHODS
The hospital and office charts of patients with a diagnosis of hydranencephaly were reviewed from the two institutions spanning the career of the senior author. Thirteen patients were identified, of whom 9 underwent CSF diversionary procedures (group A) and 4 underwent choroid plexectomy (group B).


RESULTS
The mean number of reoperations (2 in group A, 0 in group B), neurosurgical readmissions (1.5 in group A, 0 in group B) and days of hospitalization related to neurosurgical readmissions (43.5 in group A, 0 in group B) were all less in patients who underwent choroid plexectomy. The total incidence of complications related to surgery was also lower in this group (7 in group A, 0 in group B).


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, choroid plexectomy in patients with hydranencephaly reduces the incidence of reoperation and readmission, the number of days of hospitalization related to the surgical procedure and the total number of complications in comparison to patients undergoing CSF diversion. Further neurosurgical intervention is minimized as is the financial burden from multiple emergency department visits and radiological procedures for shunt evaluation. Choroid plexectomy is a viable alternative to CSF diversion in patients with hydranencephaly and a rapidly enlarging head. It avoids the chronic issues and complications surrounding CSF diversion in this difficult group of patients.
Wellons
John C
JC
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham, Ala 35233, USA.
Tubbs
R Shane
RS
Leveque
Jean-Christophe A
JC
Blount
Jeffrey P
JP
Oakes
W Jerry
WJ
D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006832:Hydranencephaly / Q000601:surgery*; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D007223:Infant; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012086:Reoperation; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt