title: An Improved One-Stage Operation of Cranioplasty and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt in Patient with Hydrocephalus and Large Cranial Defect.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The risk of complications is high for patients with a large cranial defect and hydrocephalus, undergoing cranioplasty and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt operation. The purpose of this study is to examine retrospectively such cases with complications and contrive an operative technique to reduce complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients underwent cranioplasty and VP shunt operation due to large cranial defects and hydrocephalus. These patients were divided into two groups: Group A with 10 patients who underwent staged-operations, and Group B with 9 patients who underwent one-stage operation. Their complications in each group were retrospectively reviewed. Another five patients underwent a one-stage operation with temporary occlusion of the distal shunt catheter to improve on the technique and were categorized as Group C. Complications in these groups were compared and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the data analysis revealed that complications related to anesthesia (40%) and those related to antibiotic prophylaxis (30%) were high in Group A, while non-infectious delayed complications (45%) and perioperative complications such as intracranial hematoma (33%) were high in Group B. However, for patients in Group C, it showed less complication with the operative technique devised by these authors, as opposed to two previous procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with hydrocephalus and a large cranial defect, complications arising from existing one-stage operation or staged-operations can be reduced by implementing the technique of "one-stage operation with temporary occlusion of the distal shunt catheter."
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Taek
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Pyung
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Cheju Halla General Hospital, Jeju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Ik
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cho
keywords: Cranial defect; Cranioplasty; Decompressive craniectomy; Hydrocephalus; One-stage operation; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt