Can hydrocephalus in newborns be treated?

Hydrocephalus is a symptom of water accumulation caused by a certain disease. It is mainly caused by some diseases of the brain that lead to excessive secretion of cerebral fluid. This is particularly harmful to the health of newborns, and even to the child's future growth and development, or intelligence. Therefore, hydrocephalus must be treated promptly. The more common methods include non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment.

1. Non-surgical treatment

It is suitable for patients in the early stage or with mild disease and slow progression. The purpose is to reduce the secretion of cerebrospinal fluid or increase the body's water discharge. The methods include:

A: Use diuretics, such as acetazolamide, hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, mannitol, etc.

B: Repeated puncture and drainage through the anterior fontanelle or lumbar spine.

2. Surgical treatment

Surgical treatment is suitable for cases with high intraventricular pressure (more than 250 mm of water column) or when non-surgical treatment fails. Severe hydrocephalus, such as head circumference exceeding 50cm, cerebral cortical atrophy thickness less than 1cm, and combined with severe functional disorders and deformities, can also be treated with surgery, but the surgical effect is not good.

Surgical method:

⑴ Surgery to relieve obstruction (etiological treatment):

Etiological treatment should be the first choice for treating hydrocephalus. For obstructive hydrocephalus, relieving the obstruction is the ideal method. Such as foramen puncture, aqueduct reconstruction, fourth ventricle cyst fistula, intraventricular tumor resection, third ventricle floor fistula, foramen magnum decompression, etc.

⑵ Reduce cerebrospinal fluid formation:

Such as using lateral ventricular choroid plexus resection or electrocautery. It is mainly used for communicating hydrocephalus, especially in patients who have failed shunt surgery or are not suitable for shunt. Currently, electrocautery under endoscopy can significantly reduce the occurrence of surgical complications.

⑶ Cerebrospinal fluid shunt

① Ventricular and cisternal shunt, such as: lateral ventricle and occipital cisterna magna shunt; ② Ventricular-body cavity shunt, such as: ventriculoperitoneal (or cisternal) shunt; ③ Ventriculothoracic shunt; ④ Extracorporeal drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, such as: lateral ventriculotympanic shunt; ⑤ Ventricular and ureteral shunt; ⑥ Introduction of cerebrospinal fluid into the cardiovascular system, such as: ventriculoatrial shunt; ⑦ Ventriculo-internal jugular vein shunt; ⑧ Ventriculo-atrial shunt; ⑨ Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.