title: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the presence of large or giant basilar artery aneurysms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an effective treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus (OH). However, the presence of a large or giant basilar aneurysm is generally considered a contra-indication to ETV for treating hydrocephalus. We report the feasibility and efficacy of ETV for the treatment of hydrocephalus in the presence of such aneurysms.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective chart analysis of patients that underwent ETV for large or giant basilar aneurysm-associated hydrocephalus between January 2003 and January 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During this period, 78 patients were treated by ETV. Of these, three patients presented with symptomatic hydrocephalus associated with a large giant basilar aneurysm (n = 3). Two of those patients had a history of previous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) 11 years and 13 years before ETV. Both aneurysms were embolized preoperatively. The third patient presented with OH due to an unruptured basilar artery aneurysm. There was no operative complication and symptoms resolution was observed in all patients at last follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ETV is a safe and effective alternative to ventriculo-peritoneal shunting in patients with hydrocephalus caused by large or giant basilar artery aneurysms. In addition, a history of SAH/IVH should not be considered a contra-indication to ETV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Hôpital Notre-Dame, 1560 rue Sherbrooke Est, Montreal, Quebec, H2L 4M1, Canada.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obaid
authors.forename: Alexander G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: Michel W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Bojanowski
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017542:Aneurysm, Ruptured / Q000601:surgery; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000009:adverse effects