Endoscopic aqueductal stenting via the fourth ventricle under navigating system guidance: technical note.
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.
Hamada
Hideo
H
Department of Neurosurgery, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama, Japan. hideo@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Hayashi
Nakamasa
N
Kurimoto
Masanori
M
Endo
Shunro
S
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