title: Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: lumboperitoneal shunts versus ventriculoperitoneal shunts--case series and literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is an uncommon but important cause of headache that can lead to visual loss. This study was undertaken to review our experience in the treatment of IIH by neuronavigation-assisted ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts with programmable valves as compared to lumboperitoneal (LP) shunts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review was conducted on 25 patients treated for IIH between 2001 and 2009. Age, sex, clinical presentation, methods of treatment and failure rates were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two per cent were treated initially with LP shunts. Failure rate was 11% in this group. Neuronavigation-assisted VP shunts were used to treat 28%. In this group, the failure rate was 14%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience indicates that both LP shunts and VP shuts are effective in controlling all the clinical manifestations of IIH in the immediate postoperative period. Failure rates are slightly higher for VP shunts (14%) than LP shunts (11%). However, revision rates are higher with LP shunts (60%) than with VP shunts (30%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont, Dublin, Ireland. Khalidnm500@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abubaker
authors.forename: Zulfiqar
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: Ciaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolger
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rawluk
authors.forename: Donncha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011559:Pseudotumor Cerebri / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000379:methods; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*