title: Endoscopic aqueductal stenting via the fourth ventricle under navigating system guidance: technical note.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We report three patients with symptomatic isolated fourth ventricle after ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus associated with ventricular hemorrhage. All three patients were treated successfully with our new method of endoscopic aqueductal stenting under navigating system guidance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A therapeutic rigid endoscope was inserted through the thin cerebellar hemisphere, and endoscopic aqueductal stenting was performed via the enlarged fourth ventricle under navigating system guidance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All three patients underwent successful procedures with good outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our method of aqueductal stenting is a reasonable choice for initial treatment of patients with isolated fourth ventricle, and it entails less invasive neurosurgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Japan. hideo@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Nakamasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.forename: Shunro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Endo
mesh_terms: D002535:Cerebral Aqueduct / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography / Q000379:methods; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020546:Fourth Ventricle / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D038361:Neuronavigation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D015607:Stents