Complications and failures of endoscopic ventriculostomy of the third ventricle

: The study was undertaken to elucidate the poor outcomes of endoscopic ventriculostomy of the third ventricle (EVTV), including complications and dysfunctions. A series of 249 consecutive EVTV (the mean age of 15 years in 247 patients) made at the Institute of Neurosurgery in 1995 to 2003 was analyzed. The causes of hydrocephalus were benign tumors in 95 (38%) patients, stenosis of the aqueduct of the cerebrum in 73 (29%), malignant tumors in 63 (25%), and other causes in 18 (7%) cases. Obstruction in the posterior cranial fossa was present in 12 (5%); prior to EVTV, 24 (10%) and 36 (15%) patients had undergone craniotomy and bypass surgery, respectively; 12 (5%) patients had sustained subarachnoidal or intraventricular hemorrhage, 21 (8%) had intracranial infections. The follow-up averaged 16 months. Its results showed that 40 complications occurred in 34 (14%) patients. Seven (3%) patients required unplanned operations; transient and persistent neurological deficits were present in 15 (6%) and 2 (1%), respectively; there were no surgery-related deaths. Meningitis occurred in 14 (6%) cases; its risk was higher in patients having a history of intracranial infections (p = 0.02); meningitis was absent in patients with benign tumors (p < 0.01). Intracranial hemorrhages occurred in 7 (3%) cases; 2 of them required surgical treatment. Moreover, there were 6 (2%) wound complications (4 cases of wound cerebrospinal fluid discharge); 5 (2%) EVTVs were prematurely discontinued; isolated neurological deficit occurred in 6 (2%), single seizures were observed in 2 (1%). There were early dysfunctions in 16 (6%) cases; their risk was associated with obstruction in the posterior cranial fossa (p = 0.04) and with the technical result of an operation (p < 0.01). Late dysfunctions occurred in 21 (8%) cases, on the average, after 12 months of EVTV; their risk was higher in patients with malignant tumors (p = 0.04). It is concluded that indications for EVTV should be substantiated by the good chance of having a steady-state surgical success, by an overall prognosis, and staffs experience. The history of intracranial infections requires careful preoperative studies. Obstruction at the level of the posterior intracranial fossa is a relative contraindication to EVTV due to a low chance of having a success. The high risk for late dysfunctions in patients with malignant tumors requires a more strict choice of indications in this group. If there is anastomotic dysfunction, EVTV may be a good alternative to shunt revision.