title: [Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for chronic communicating hydrocephalus in adults].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Shunt devices to treat hydrocephalus are associated with a malfunction of 81 % at 12 years and 10 % of infection. The objective was to assess safeness and efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) for the treatment of chronic communicating hydrocephalus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight patients with chronic communicating hydrocephalus were included in a period between September, 2012 and April, 2013. X ray computed tomography scans were performed when patients were admitted, after the surgery, and at 30, 180 and 365 days. The follow-up was of 251 days (the biggest was of 459 days). The variables included were: age, sex, etiology, time of evolution, and the total number of shunt malfunctions. Conventional technique with a 30° rigid endoscope was performed, malfunctional shunt was removed, and a tied shunt device was placed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four males and four females, with a mean age of 42 years (27-63 years); neurocysticercosis was identified in five patients (62.5 %); the evolution rate was of 18 years (15-30 years); the hospital stay rate was of 6.5 days (3-22 days); the mean of previous shunt malfunctions was 4 (1-6).
  
  
  RESULTS
  neuroinfection in one patient, malfunction in three patients. None of them died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ETV is a safety procedure for treating chronic communicating hydrocephalus; it has a success rate higher than 60 %. Neurocysticercosis showed better results when previous shunt malfunctions were lower than three.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neurocirugía, Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Distrito Federal, México. sandovalbalanzario@hotmail.com;
authors.forename: Miguel Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sandoval-Balanzario
authors.forename: Raúl Abraham
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rincón-Navarro
authors.forename: Rommel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Granados-López
authors.forename: Jorge Arturo
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Santos-Franco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014696:Ventriculostomy / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Communicating hydrocephalus; Neuroendoscopy; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt; Ventriculostomy