hydroceph alus neil barry 11/0537/1159 medical and surgicalconditions
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HYDROCEPHALUSNEIL BARRY11/0537/1159MEDICAL AND SURGICALCONDITIONS
Definition Hydrocephalus is an abnormal expansion of cavities
(ventricles) within the brain that is caused by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid. Hydrocephalus comes from two Greek words: hydros means water and cephalus means head.
There are two main varieties of hydrocephalus: congenital and acquired. An obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct (aqueductal stenosis) is the most frequent cause of congenital hydrocephalus. Acquired hydrocephalus may result from spina bifida, intraventricular hemorrhage, meningitis, head trauma, tumors, and cysts.
Definition of Adult Hydrocephalus Ventricular enlargement due to altered
CSF flow or resorption, with or without symptoms or neurologic impairment
Obstructive Hydrocephalus Impairment of CSF flow within the ventricular
system Communicating Hydrocephalus
Impairment of CSF flow or resorption outside the ventricular system
Impaired flow through the subarachnoid space Impaired resorption at the arachnoid
granulations
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Hydrocephalus is the result of an imbalance between the formation and
drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Approximately 500 milliliters (about a pint) of CSF is formed
within the brain each day, by epidermal cells in structures collectively called the choroid plexus. These cells line chambers called ventricles that are located within the brain.
There are four ventricles in a human brain. Once formed, CSF usually circulates among all the ventricles before it is absorbed and returned to the circulatory system.
The normal adult volume of circulating CSF is 150 ml. The CSF turn-over rate is more than three times per day. Because production is independent of absorption, reduced absorption causes CSF to accumulate within the ventricles.
Obstructive Hydrocephalus:Aqueductal Stenosis
36-yo man with headaches,syncope, job impairment
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Communicating Hydrocephalus Idiopathic
In the elderly, normal pressure hydrocephalus
Chronic, insidious onset Symptomatic (secondary)
hydrocephalus Post-subarachnoid hemorrhage
(aneurysm), post-infectious, post-traumatic
Acute, subacute or chronic onset
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Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus NPH is a treatable form of dementia,
gait apraxia and urinary incontinence Treatment is surgical--shunt insertion Treatable nature of NPH distinguishes it
from the essentially untreatable nature of most dementias
Common diagnostic tests do not predict the outcome from shunt surgery very well
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NPH Diagnosis NPH clinically overlaps with many
conditions of the elderly Vascular dementia Degenerative dementias or disease Cervical stenosis/myelopathy Lumbar stenosis Peripheral neuropathy
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Aetiology Hydrocephalus has a variety of causes
including: congenital brain defects hemorrhage, either into the ventricles or
the subarachnoid space infection of the central nervous system
(syphilis, herpes, meningitis, encephalitis, or mumps)
tumor
Hydrocephalus that is congenital (present at birth) is thought to be caused by a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Aqueductal stenosis, an obstruction of the cerebral aqueduct, is the most frequent cause of congenital hydrocephalus.
Signs and symptoms of elevated-pressure hydrocephalus include:
headache nausea and vomiting, especially in the
morning lethargy disturbances in walking (gait) double vision subtle difficulties in learning and memory delay in children achieving developmental
milestones
Irritability is the most common sign of hydrocephalus in infants. If this is not treated, it may lead to lethargy. Bulging of the fontanelles, or the soft spots between the skull bones, may also be an early sign. When hydrocephalus occurs in infants, fusion of the skull bones is prevented. This leads to abnormal expansion of the skull.
Symptoms of normal pressure hydrocephalus include dementia, gait abnormalities, and incontinence (involuntary urination or bowel movements).
TREATMENT The primary method of treatment for both
elevated and normal pressure hydrocephalus is surgical installation of a shunt. A shunt is a tube connecting the ventricles of the brain to an alternative drainage site, usually the abdominal cavity. A shunt contains a one-way valve to prevent reverse flow of fluid. In some cases of non-communicating hydrocephalus, a direct connection can be made between one of the ventricles and the subarachnoid space, allowing drainage without a shunt.
Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida
Spina bifida begins usually before the woman knows she is pregnant (day 21-28)
The tissues that form the neural tube do not close or stay completely closed.
An opening in the vertebrae that protect the spinal cord is formed.
Potential Causes
Homocysteine concentration in the bloodstream is increased Homocysteine is a byproduct of
Methionine It can be reused to recreate Methionine In acetaminophen poisoning, methionine
prevents the breakdown products of acetaminophen from damaging the liver.
Potential Causes Cont’d
A family with one child that has spina bifida are 8 times more likely to have another with the disease
Genetic factors (heredity)Environmental factors
Nutrition Substance exposure Decreased folic acid intake during
pregnancy
Types and of Spina Bifida
1. Occulta “hidden”this type is covered by a layer of skin and is not visible outside the body, however the vertebrae are malformed.
2. Meningocelethe spinal cord membrane bulges out of an opening that is caused by damaged or missing vertebrae and is usually seen as a cyst or bump covered by skin, the spinal cord develops normally
3. Myelomeningocelethe spinal cord, nerves and membrane sticks out from the opening in the spine, usually breaking the skin causing spinal fluid leakage. After surgery, paralysis is still present.
Spina Bifida Complications
Degrees of spine exposure at birth can cause: Paralysis Need for surgery Spine problems More mild problems that require the use of
crutches, wheelchair, or leg braces.Can also be accompanied by learning
problems, and difficulties with bowels and urination, as well as fluid on the brain
TreatmentMeningocele can be treated surgically
to restore normal spinal cord functionMyelomeningocele spina bifida is
operated on within 48 hours after birth to prevent severe bacterial infection. Surgeons place the spinal cord back in the canal and cover it with muscle and skin. Paralysis and bowel problems still persist after surgery.
Treatment Initial surgery may be carried out during the first days of
life, providing protection against injury and infection. Subsequent surgery is often necessary to protect against
excessive curvature of the spine, and in the presence of hydrocephaly, to place a mechanical shunt to decrease the pressure and amount of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities of the brain.
Because of weakness or paralysis below the level of the spine abnormality, most children will require physical therapy, bracing, and other orthopedic assistance to enable them to walk. A variety of approaches including periodic bladder catheterization, surgical diversion of urine, and antibiotics are used to protect urinary function
Benefits• Decrease handicaps• Corrected brain
malformationsRisks• Infection• Blood loss• Premature delivery• Organ immaturity• Death
Fetal Surgery Treatment
References
http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/birth_defect/spina_bifida_p2.html
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/525049 www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/spina_bifida/spina_bifida.htm
www.sbhao.on.ca/SBinfo.asp http://www.fetal-surgery.com/ "Hydrocephalus." American Association of Neurological
Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons. http://www.neurosurgery.org/pubpages/patres/hydrobroch.html .⟨ ⟩
"Hydrocephalus." Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery. Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY. http://nyneurosurgery.org/child/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus.ht⟨
m .⟩ "Hydrocephalus." National Library of Medicine. MEDLINEplus.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hydrocephalus.html.
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