19095026 hydrocephalus

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HydrocephalusHydrocephalus

BYDr.K.Ashish



What is Hydrocephalus?What is Hydrocephalus? The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek

words “hydro” meaning water and “cephalus”meaning head. As the name implies, it is a

condition in which the primary characteristic isexcessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Theexcessive accumulation of (CSF) cerebrospinalfluid results in an abnormal dilatation of the

spaces in the brain called ventricles. Thisdilatation causes potentially harmful pressure onthe tissue of the brain.



Types of hydrocephalus Types of hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus may becongenital or acquired.Congenital hydrocephalusis present at birth, and

may be caused be eitherenvironmental influencesduring fetal developmentor genetic predisposition.Acquired hydrocephalusdevelops at the time of

birth or at some pointafterwards. This type canaffect individuals of allages and may be causedby injury or disease.



Other types of Other types of

HydrocephalusHydrocephalus Two other forms of hydrocephalus which don’t fitdistinctly into those categories are hydrocephalusex-vacuo, and normal pressure hydrocephalus.

* Ex-vacuo occurs when there is damage to the

brain caused by stroke of a traumatic injury.

* Normal pressure hydrocephalus commonly

occurs in the elderly, due to aging.



Causes of HydrocephalusCauses of HydrocephalusHydrocephalus is the result when the flow of CSF is disrupted when your body doesn'tabsorb it properly. CSF provides a number of important functions, including acting as acushion for protection and transportingnutrients to the brain. There are two maincauses; obstructive and non-obstructive.



Obstructive (non-communicating)Obstructive (non-communicating)

This type of hydrocephalus resultsfrom an obstructionwithin the ventricularsystem of the brain thatprevents CSF fromflowing or“communicating” withinthe brain. The most

common type is anarrowing of a channel inthe brain that connects

two ventricles together.



Non-obstructiveNon-obstructive

(communicating)(communicating)

This type resultsfrom problems

with theproduction orabsorption of CSF.

The most common

is caused bybleeding into thesubarachnoidspace in the brain.



Early symptomsEarly symptoms

(infants)(infants)

* Enlargement of the

head* Bulging fontanels

* Sutures are

separated

* Vomiting



Late symptomsLate symptoms* Decreased mental function

* Delayed movements

* Difficulty feeding* Excessive sleepiness

* Brief, shrill, high-pitched cry

* Slow growth (0-5 years)



DiagnosisDiagnosis Tapping with the fingertips on the skull

mayshow abnormal sounds associated withthinning and separation of skull bones.

Scalp veins may appear dilated.

Eyes are depressed.



Tests Tests

Tran illumination

Head CT scan

Lumbar punctures(spinal taps)

Skull X-rays

Echoencephalogram



Treatment Treatment

The main goal is tominimize or prevent brain

damage by improvingCSF flow.

Surgical interventions arethe primary treatment,including direct removal

of the obstruction, if possible. A surgical shuntwithin the brain mayallow CSF to bypass theobstructed area, if obstruction cannot beremoved.

19095026 hydrocephalus

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