Is the success rate of endoscopic third ventriculostomy age-dependent? An analysis of the results of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in young children.
BACKGROUND
Different opinions exist in the literature about the effectiveness of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of hydrocephalus in young children. Therefore we made a retrospective evaluation of our own success rates of performing ETVs in children less than 2 years of age.


METHODS
In a series of 275 ETVs 66 procedures were performed in children less than 2 years of age.


RESULTS
The overall success rate in this young age group was 53%, lower than the success rates of ETVs reported in literature (72-92%). But further analysis of these results and a comparison of the results in subgroups with different etiologies of the hydrocephalus showed that the success rates varied between 20 and 88%.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the success of ETV depends mainly on the etiology of the hydrocephalus and not on the age of the patient alone.
Beems
Tjemme
T
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre St. Radboud, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. T.Beems@czzonch.azn.nl
Grotenhuis
J Andre
JA
D000367:Age Factors; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data