Obstructive Hydrocephalus

Obstructive Hydrocephalus

Obstructive Hydrocephalus derives its name from the Greek words hydro (water) and kephale (head), so the condition is sometimes referred to as "water on the brain". Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a clear fluid that is present in the brain and spinal cord to help prevent injury, deliver nutrients, regulate pressure, and remove waste. CSF is produced and stored in ventricles before being absorbed into the bloodstream via the venous system. If the CSF pathways become obstructed or damaged, CSF can accumulate within the ventricular system, which can cause the ventricles to dilate and the cerebral mantle to thin and stretch. When this happens, the condition is known as obstructive hydrocephalus.

Symptoms of Obstructive Hydrocephalus


Symptoms of obstructive hydrocephalus can be seen in both adults and kids, but they are often more visually noticeable in infants.

• Because infants' skulls are not fully developed, the buildup of fluid can cause their head to enlarge. It is also possible for infants to form a bulging soft spot on their head, visible and concerning veins on their head and/or separation of bones in the head (as the bones in the skull are not yet closed). They may also show delayed adaptability to walking and motor functions.


• Other symptoms which are noticeable in both children and adults are nausea, Headaches, poor coordination and loss of concentration.


• Adults may also experience impaired vision, vomiting and bladder control problems.

Risk Factors of Obstructive Hydrocephalus
This condition can be caused by numerous circumstances and conditions and can affect any person at any age.

• The condition is most common in adults over the age of 60 or in young children; it is estimated that 1 in 500 children are affected by the condition.


• It is also known to be a congenital condition, meaning it can be present at birth.


• This will often stem from a genetic disorder, such as Spina Bifida.


• In cases concerning the elderly, the hydrocephalus is usually due to an infection (such as Meningitis), head injury or a brain Tumor/cyst.

How to Diagnose Obstructive Hydrocephalus
There are certain strategies your doctor may devise to assess whether you have obstructive hydrocephalus.

• They will likely first discuss your medical history and what symptoms you are experiencing to try to find out the cause.


• A neurological examination may be implemented to assess your cognitive function, as well as a physical examination to test things such as walking and balance.


• An MRI or CT scan will be suggested if you are believed to have obstructive hydrocephalus.

How to Treat Obstructive Hydrocephalus
Obstructive hydrocephalus treatment depends on the severity and the cause of the condition.

• If the condition is caused by a temporary block, and no symptoms have formed from the condition, then there may be no requirement for intervention.


• It may also be suggested that you undergo a procedure to remove some CSF via a spinal tap (lumbar puncture) to see if your symptoms alleviates or clears.


• If the condition is believed to be caused by a cyst or a tumor, then surgery would be the best option. Surgery does not guarantee improvement and health care professionals have little hope of determining whether the procedure will be beneficial or not. Generally, if a patient responds well to CSF draining, then surgery will be recommended. If left untreated, symptoms can get drastically worse and even lead to death.

Know more about hydrocephalus and obstructive hydrocephalus from the video below:

Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus






Cephalus means head and hydro means water. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is excess of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. This fluid usually surrounds the spinal cord and the brain and when it in excess quantity, this water like fluid can cause intense pressure on the brain. CSF fluid starts flowing from ventricles and passes through brain and spinal cord before exiting from cistern to get reabsorbed into the blood. Cerebrospinal fluid has major roles like keeping the brain buoyant, transporting nutrients to bran and to regulate the amount of blood passes through the brain.

Causes :

Possible causes of imbalance in cerebrospinal fluid are:

• Excess of secretion
• Poor re-absorption of the fluid into the bloodstream
• When there is block in the brain restricting the flow of fluid
• Due to infections during pregnancy
• Genetic abnormality

In some cases, hydrocephalus may be caused when there are developmental disorders in nervous system or neural tubes.

Meningitis, head injury, brain tumor or hemorrhage may also cause this problem.

Symptoms :

The signs of hydrocephalus vary widely with age and intensity of disorder. An infant cannot tolerate the pressure of CSF in the brain like that of an adult. Symptoms that are common in children are vomiting, Headache, seizures, nausea, blurred vision, imbalance in vision, and delayed developmental standards. In adults, there may be changes in personality, poor rational thinking, uncontrolled eye movements and muscle spasticity.

There may be loss of memory, poor concentration, sleeplessness, lethargy and problems in walking and Urinary Incontinence. Some adults will have Dementia and severe loss of memory. This problem can create other disorders like Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s syndrome and Creutzfeldt Jakob disease.

Diagnoses :

Doctors will administer CT scan and MRI scan to assess the exact condition of the brain and monitor the pressure exerted by CSF. He may also do lumbar puncture and skull X-ray before proceeding with treatment. For young children, abnormal sound is heard when the doctor taps on the skull and head may be bulgy or large.

Treatment :

The ultimate purpose of treatment is to control the level of CSF in the brain. Shunting may be done or surgery is performed depending on the health condition and other factors of the patient. During shunting, a tube is inserted into the brain which sends the fluid into other parts of the body for re-absorption. In severe cases, Endoscopy Third ventriculostomy is done for relieving the pressure of fluid inside the brain. For some patients, the process of cauterizing is done for burning the parts of brain that secretes excess of CSF.

For treating infections, antibiotics are prescribed. The patient has to be monitored for checking the neuro-psychological development through follow-ups and behavior counseling.

Pictures of Hydrocephalus :

Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Hydrocephalus

Prognosis :

Hydrocephalus is potentially life threatening if treatment is delayed. It can cause serious impact on the mental as well as physical development of the child. Complications may be expected during shunting procedure and infection like meningitis and encephalitis can occur. There is chance for nerve damage which may result in decreased movement.

Prevention :

You can only take care of the child to avoid head injury and in not delaying the treatment, once you suspect that something is wrong.

Hydrocephalus – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Pictures

Hydrocephalus – Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Pictures

What is Hydrocephalus?

This happens when excessive fluid amasses in the brain, mainly due to an obstruction that prevents fluid to drain properly. This unnecessary fluid may apply pressure on surrounding delicate brain matter and may cause damage to the brain. If not treated, hydrocephalus may be fatal.

Often referred to as “water on the brain”, this condition is most of the time existing at birth, while it can also develop later. About one (1) in 500 children is delivered already having this disorder. Prognosis for individuals having hydrocephalus normally depends on how quickly this problem is diagnosed as well as if any underlying problems are existent.

Hydrocephalus Symptoms

The symptoms and signs of hydrocephalus are various due to the age group as well as the disease develops.

Hydrocephalus Symptoms in Infants

• Abnormally large head


• Bulging “soft spot” on the top of the head


• Rapid increase in the head size


• Vomiting


• Sleepiness


• Seizures


• Irritability


• Eyes that are fixed downward – referred to as “sunsetting” of eyes


• Delays in development

Hydrocephalus in Adults

• Headache followed with vomiting


• Blurred as well as double vision


• Nausea


• Eyes fixed downward – referred to as “sunsetting” of the eyes


• Lack of energy or sluggishness


• Problems concerning balance, gain or coordination


• Regression or slowing of development


• Confusion


• Memory loss


• Urinary Incontinence


• Personality changes


• Irritability


• Impaired performance at work or school

Hydrocephalus causes various combinations of the above listed symptoms and signs, dependent on the causes and that also vary with age. For instance, a problem referred to as “normal pressure” hydrocephalus that mainly affects individuals who are older – typically beginning with problems walking. The problem of urinary incontinence normally develops, together with a kind of Dementia noticeable by thinking slowness as well as slowness in processing information.

Toddlers and infants need emergency medical attention for the following symptoms and signs:

• Problems with feeding or sucking


• Cry that is high-pitched


• Recurrent unexplained vomiting


• Reluctances to move or bend the head or neck is exhibiting


• Seizures


• Breathing difficulties

The following symptoms and signs do not create an emergency situation but they merit a call to the child’s physician:

• A bulging “soft spot” on the top of the head


• Rapid size increase of the head


• Change in look of the eyes or face


• Diminished level of engagement or interest in interacting socially

Adults who are older need a total neurological as well as physical exam if suffering:

• Difficulties walking


• Thinking impaired


• Urinary incontinence

Hydrocephalus Causes

Basically hydrocephalus is due to a buildup of excess fluid in the brain.

The brain is the coherence of gelatin or jello and floats in cerebrospinal fluid bath. The fluid fills any big structures that are open, referred to as ventricles that exist deep inside the brain. These fluid full ventricles aid in keeping the brain cushioned as well as buoyant.
This cerebrospinal fluid runs thru these ventricles by a system of channels that are interconnecting. This fluid in time flows into these spaces surrounding the brain and then it is absorbed into the body’s blood system.

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It is a delicate balance to keep the production, flowing and absorption of this fluid while keeping normal pressure inside the skull. Hydrocephalus begins when this flowing of cerebrospinal fluid is disturbed – for instance when a passage between ventricles narrows – or when the body does not absorb the fluid properly.

Flawed absorption of this fluid causes “normal pressure hydrocephalus” occurring mainly in older individuals. With this condition, extra fluid enlarges the ventricles but will not raise pressure on the brain. This condition is caused by illness or injury but most of the time, the cause is not known.

Infants who are born prematurely have a risk of developing bleeding that is severe within the ventricles of the brain – known as intraventricular hemorrhage – and this can lead to hydrocephalus.

Some problems while pregnant can also increase the infant’s risk for the development of hydrocephalus, and these include:

• Uterus infection


• Fetal development problems – such as closure of the spinal column that was incomplete


• Development or congenital defects which are not obvious at birth can also increase an older child’s risk of hydrocephalus.


• Other factors that can increase the risk of hydrocephalus consist of:


• Tumors or lesions of the brain or spinal column


• Cranial bleeding


• Infections of the central nervous system


• Head injury that is severe

Hydrocephalus Treatment

The condition of hydrocephalus is customarily managed by surgery. Options consist of:

Shunt placement
The more common treatment for hydrocephalus is the inserting of a system for drainage by surgery and this is referred to as a shunt. This consists of a flexible long tube that has a valve that will keep fluid flowing from the brain in the correct direction as well as at the rate that is correct. An end of this tube is normally located in one of the ventricles of the brain. This tubing is then burrowed underneath the skin to an alternative area of the body where this excess fluid is most easily absorbed – for instance the chamber in the heart or the abdomen.

Those individuals who have hydrocephalus normally will need this shunt system for the remainder of their lives. Because of this, additional surgeries might be required to insert tubing that is longer in order to match the growth of a child. Shunt revisions also can be needed when or if the tubing gets infected or blocked.

Ventriculostomy
This is a surgical process that often is needed when there is an obstruction of the fluid flow between ventricles. During this surgery, the surgeon creates a hole in the bottom or base of one of these ventricles, in order to allow the fluid to flow toward the base or bottom of the brain, where absorption that is normal occurs.

Hydrocephalus Pictures