title: [Shunted hydrocephalus in childhood: an epidemiological study of 243 consecutive observations].
abstract: This study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical data of 243 children with shunted hydrocephalus, followed-up during 1 to 27 years, as well as to identify the risk factors for psychomotor disturbances, epilepsy and death. Postoperative meningitis and mechanical problems were the most frequent complications (22.3% and 30.7%, respectively). There was an average of 1.47 shunt per patient. Severe motor disturbances occurred in 34.3%, cognitive deficits in 58.5% and epilepsy in 43.6%. Motor disturbances correlated positively with the degree of hydrocephalus. The majority of patients with hydrocephalus due to meningitis presented cognitive deficits and a significant incidence of epilepsy. Death occurred in 52 patients and there was a higher percentage of brain tumours in this group, as well as the replacement of the first shunt device due to precocious postoperative meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Pediatria, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. skliemann@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Susana Ely
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kliemann
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosemberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D002423:Cause of Death; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011596:Psychomotor Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies