Clinical efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the treatment of late-onset idiopathic aqueduct stenosis

Objective To analyze the clinical outcomes of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for the treatment of Late-onset idiopathic aqueduct stenosis (LIAS).Methods A total of 15 patients of LIAS were diagnosed during the period time from 2009.01 to 2012.12,and ETV were undergone to all of them.Evaluation were taken before and after operation (3 months) in terms of clinical symptoms,MRI results,MoCA Scale,which were analyzed and compared after operation so as to learn the cognitive characteristics of LIAS and the efficacy of ETV.Results Pre-op MRI scanning showed obvious aqueduct stenosis without any neoplasm,ventriculomegaly of the lateral and third ventricle,relatively encephalatrophy and no signs of subependymal effusion in all these patients.Post-op MRI indicated flow through the stoma at the floor of third ventricle and decreased in the size of ventricle.MoCA evaluation and clinical symptoms showed an obviously improvements after surgery and the rate of satisfaction was high according to the Odom Criteria.Conclusion ETV is efficient for the LIAS in terms of cognition and symptom improvements.This group of patient should be carefully differentiated from the " arrested hydrocephalus" in case of loosing treating opportunity. Key words: Neuroendoscopy; Endoscopic third ventriculostomy; Late-onset idiopathic aqueduct stenosis