Early Surgical Outcome of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy in the Management of Obstructive Hydrocephalus: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Management of obstructive hydrocephalus is an important issue for the reduction of mortality and morbidity.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the early surgical outcome of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the management of obstructive hydrocephalus.

Methodology: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at the Department of Neurosurgery at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from April 2009 to September 2010 for 1½ years. All patients presenting with obstructive hydrocephalus with the obstruction at or distal to the third ventricle and age 6 months and above were included in the study population. All the patients were divided into two groups named as Group A (experimental group) who were treated with ETV and Group B (control group) who were treated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS). The early surgical outcome was defined as outcomes within 1 month following surgical interventions. Pre- and post-operative outcomes of this study were measured.

Results: A total number of sixty patients were recruited from which thirty patients were in Group A and the rest thirty patients were in Group B. The mean postoperative head circumference was 43.4 ± 7.1 cm and 47.8 ± 5.6 cm in VPS and ETV surgery, respectively ( ≤ 0.01). Postoperative vomiting was improved 24 (92.3%) in Group A and 23 (88.5%) in Group B ( < 0.05). Postoperative infection occurred in 1 (3.3%) case in Group A and 8 (26.7%) cases in Group B ( < 0.05). The success of the operation in Group A and Group B included 25 (83.3%) cases and 12 (40%) cases, respectively ( < 0.05).

Conclusion: Early surgical outcome following ETV is better than VPS surgery in patients with obstructive hydrocephalus.