title: Use of the NeuroBalloon catheter for endoscopic third ventriculostomy.
abstract: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has become the procedure of choice for treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. While patient selection is the most critical factor in determining the success of an ETV procedure, the technical challenge lies in the proper site of fenestration and the successful creation of a patent stoma. Positioning of a single balloon catheter at the level or below the floor of the third ventricle to achieve an optimal ventriculostomy can at times be challenging. Here, the authors describe the use of a double-barrel balloon catheter (NeuroBalloon catheter), which facilitates positioning across, as well as dilation of, the floor of the third ventricle. The surgical technique and nuances of using the NeuroBalloon catheter and the experience in more than 1000 cases are described. The occurrence of vascular injury was less than 0.1%, and the risk of balloon rupture was less than 2%. The authors found that the placement and deployment of this balloon catheter facilitate the creation of an adequate ventriculostomy in a few simple steps.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305-5327, USA. raphaelg@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: Arjun V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Pendharkar
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerah
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sainte-Rose
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D057785:Catheters; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020542:Third Ventricle / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*