title: Treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants with subcutaneous reservoir drainage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of subcutaneous reservoir drainage as a treatment for the different types of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  11 premature infants with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus underwent subcutaneous reservoir embedment surgery, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was drained via the reservoir intermittently for 8 weeks. During the period of drainage, ultrasound and computerized tomography were used to measure ventricle size. CSF examinations were performed routinely to assess the presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and/or infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Five infants were diagnosed as having obstructive hydrocephalus; 2 had nearly normal ventricle sizes with treatment and drainage was stopped after 8 weeks, 2 had nearly normal ventricle sizes after 4 more weeks of drainage, and 1 underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt (V-P shunt) surgery due to failure of ventricle size reduction. (2) Six infants were diagnosed as having communicating hydrocephalus; 4 had further enlarged ventricle size after 8 weeks and underwent V-P shunt surgery, 1 had treatment aborted at week 8 of drainage, and only 1 had moderate reduction of ventricle size after 8 weeks. (3) None of the 11 infants had progressive IVH and/or intracranial infection during drainage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subcutaneous reservoir drainage is a suitable and safe treatment for posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants. It is more effective for obstructive hydrocephalus than for communicating hydrocephalus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, No. 109 Xueyuanxilu Street, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. dog4317169@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shasha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhenlang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Nu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000379:methods; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome