Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in previously shunted children: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the mid-term results, success rates, and time-to-failure of secondary endoscopic third ventriculostomy (secondary ETV), as well as the complex management of preoperative and postoperative cares.


METHODS
To this purpose, a retrospective analysis of a pediatric population of 22 children who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) after shunt malfunction (secondary ETV) was performed.


RESULTS
The failure rate, given by the percentage of new shunt replacement in the first 3 months after ETV, was 36%, with a mean time to failure of 14.3 days. All the failures were evident within 1 month after the ETV. Despite the small number of patients in our series, we found no significant correlation between ETV failure and both patient age and hydrocephalus etiology (p = 0.47 and p = 0.78, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
In our experience, ETV secondary to shunt malfunction in pediatric patients has a success rate of 64%. As it is a safe and rapid treatment option even in emergency conditions, it is worth performing this procedure in previously shunted children.
Marton
Elisabetta
E
Department of Neurosurgery, Treviso Hospital, University of Padova, Piazzale Ospedale 1, Treviso, Italy. emarton@ulss.tv.it
Feletti
Alberto
A
Basaldella
Luca
L
Longatti
Pierluigi
P
D000293:Adolescent; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt; D014696:Ventriculostomy