Multiloculated Hydrocephalus: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Clinical Implications

Pediatric patients with multiloculated hydrocephalus represent a neurosurgical challenge. While multiloculated hydrocephalus is a relatively rare occurrence, patients with this pathology may require multiple surgeries and complicated shunt designs. Additionally, their neurological outcome tends to be poorer than hydrocephalic patients without loculations. This chapter describes risk factors for multiloculated hydrocephalus such as neonatal infection and intraventricular hemorrhage. Diagnostic criteria and methods for imaging multiloculated hydrocephalus are also discussed. Several common treatments are discussed including shunting, craniotomy for fenestration of loculations, and neuroendoscopic fenestration of loculations. Finally, possible methods for the prevention of multiloculated hydrocephalus are discussed.