title: Endoscopic transventricular transaqueductal Magendie and Luschka foraminoplasty for hydrocephalus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Routinely, hydrocephalus related to fourth ventricular outlet obstruction (FVOO) has been managed with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV). Few reports on Magendie foraminoplasty exist, and Luschka foraminoplasty has not been described.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present an alternative technique in the management of FVOO via an endoscopic transventricular transaqueductal Magendie and Luschka foraminoplasty and to discuss the indications, technique, findings, and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1994 and 2011, all patients who underwent endoscopic Magendie and Luschka foraminoplasty were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 33 Magendie (28) and/or Luschka (5) foraminoplasties were performed in 30 patients. Twenty-three were adult and 7 were pediatric patients. The etiology of the FVOO was divided into primary etiologies (congenital membrane in 5 and atresia in 2) and secondary causes (neurocysticercosis in 14 patients, bacterial meningitis in 9). Fifteen (50%) had previously failed procedures. Intraoperative findings that led to Magendie/Luschka foraminoplasty were ETV not feasible to perform, nonpatent basal subarachnoid space, or primary FVOO. Minor postoperative complications were seen in 3 patients. Only 26 patients had long-term follow-up; 17 (65.3%) of these had clinical improvement and did not require further procedures. Nine (34.7%) did not improve. Eight required another procedure (7 shunts, and 1 endoscopic procedure). One patient died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Flexible neuroendoscopic transventricular transforaminal Magendie and Luschka foraminoplasty is feasible and safe. These procedures may prove to be viable alternatives to standard ETV and VP shunt in appropriate patients. Adequate intraoperative assessment of ETV success is necessary to identify patients who will benefit.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Central, University of San Luis Potosi and School of Medicine, San Luis Potosi, Mexico; ‡Department of Neurosurgery, Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts; §Department of Neurosurgery, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torres-Corzo
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Della Vecchia
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Muruato-Araiza
authors.forename: Steven W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rangel-Castilla
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044583:Neuroendoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome