Table of contents:
- Hydrocephalus treatment must be diagnosed
- What are the treatments for hydrocephalus?
- 1. The shunt method
- 2. Third endoscopic ventriculostomy
- Is there a risk of complications from hydrocephalus treatment?
Newborns diagnosed with hydrocephalus need treatment as soon as possible. This is because hydrocephalus can cause damage to the brain and other health problems if not detected and treated immediately. So, what is the treatment for hydrocephalus in babies?
Hydrocephalus treatment must be diagnosed
Hydrocephalus is a condition or congenital birth defect in babies that makes the circumference of your little one's head enlarge more than normal.
The cause of hydrocephalus or an enlarged head is due to a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, aka the brain cavity.
Under normal conditions, cerebrospinal fluid should flow in the brain and spinal cord. Furthermore, the cerebrospinal fluid is absorbed by the blood vessels.
However, this is not the case in babies who have hydrocephalus because cerebrospinal fluid does not flow smoothly in the brain.
Instead of being absorbed by blood vessels, cerebrospinal fluid actually accumulates in the brain, causing enlargement or swelling.
That is why one of the most visible symptoms of hydrocephalus in babies is an increase in the size of the head circumference more than normal.
Before finding out what treatment is right for hydrocephalus in this baby, you should first understand how to diagnose it.
Usually, hydrocephalus congenital abnormalities or birth defects can begin to be detected while the baby is still in the womb.
Diagnosis of hydrocephalus during pregnancy can be made using ultrasonography (USG) during a pregnancy check-up schedule.
Meanwhile, for babies who have been born, the diagnosis of hydrocephalus can be done by measuring the circumference of the head. If the size of the baby's head circumference is more than normal, it means that your little one is diagnosed with hydrocephalus.
However, doctors will usually confirm this by conducting further tests. The doctor may suggest an ultrasound test of the newborn, tests magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and tests computerized tomography (CT-scan).
These tests aim to provide a more detailed picture of the current baby's brain condition. After that, the new doctor can do the right treatment to treat hydrocephalus in babies.
What are the treatments for hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus treatment for babies should be done immediately after diagnosis. Not without reason, this is because hydrocephalus has the risk of being fatal to the baby if not treated as soon as possible.
Hydrocephalus treatment is not able to reverse the brain damage that has occurred. However, hydrocephalus treatment can at least prevent further damage to the baby's brain.
In addition, hydrocephalus treatment in infants is also aimed at improving the flow of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Here are some hydrocephalus treatment options in babies:
1. The shunt method
The most common treatment for hydrocephalus in infants is with a shunt procedure. A shunt is a tool in the treatment of hydrocephalus in infants that is useful for removing excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain.
The shunt structure consists of a long, flexible tube accompanied by a catheter and valve. The various components in the shunt will help direct the fluid in the brain to flow in the right direction.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons explains that a shunt device is placed under the scalp and then directed to another part or cavity of the body.
As an illustration, one end of the tube on the shunt tool is placed in one of the ventricles or cavities of the brain.
That way, it is hoped that the excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain can flow into the shunt tube until it ends up in other parts of the body.
Other parts of the body that are used as a place to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain, usually in the peritoneal cavity (the area around the abdominal organs) and the space in the heart.
This is because both parts of the body are considered easy and fast in absorbing excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain.
Interestingly, in the shunt there is a special valve that controls the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.
That way, the excess cerebrospinal fluid flowing from the brain to other parts of the body will not be too fast. Once attached to the head, hydrocephalus treatment in infants with this shunt tool will continue to be used for life.
The doctor will monitor the baby's condition regularly and may perform additional surgeries to repair the shunt device if needed.
This hydrocephalus treatment procedure will help keep the cerebrospinal fluid in the baby's brain within normal limits.
2. Third endoscopic ventriculostomy
Third endoscopic ventriculostomy or also called endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a surgical procedure for treating hydrocephalus but is not intended for all conditions.
The doctor will first use an endoscope to get a clear vision of the baby's brain condition. An endoscope is a long, thin tube equipped with a light and camera at the end.
But before that, the doctor will first make a small hole in the brain's skull. In more detail, making a hole is done in the lower part of one of the brain cavities or between the cavities of the brain.
This aims to make it easier for excess cerebrospinal fluid to flow out of the brain.
After the excess cerebrospinal fluid has been removed by making a hole, then the endoscope or small camera is taken back.
Next, the doctor closes the wound or hole in the brain and head by making stitches. The entire third endoscopic ventriculostomy series of procedures can take approximately 1 hour.
Although hydrocephalus treatment in babies can only be done for certain conditions, this procedure can be an option for cerebrospinal fluid buildup caused by blockages.
Cerebrospinal fluid will then flow outward through the opening to reduce blockage.
Is there a risk of complications from hydrocephalus treatment?
There are several factors that determine the severity of hydrocephalus. These various factors include since when hydrocephalus began to appear and how it develops.
If the hydrocephalus condition gets worse after the baby is born, it is likely that your little one may experience brain damage and physical disabilities.
Meanwhile, if the hydrocephalus condition is not so severe and the baby is immediately given treatment, the baby's health will automatically be much better later.
Even so, the two types of hydrocephalus treatment in infants that have been described previously do not escape the risks and possible complications.
The shunt procedure can cause mechanical damage, blockage, or infection, causing it to stop draining cerebrospinal fluid.
Temporary complications from endoscopic ventriculostomy or third endoscopy endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) can cause bleeding and infection.
Any disturbance or complication related to hydrocephalus treatment in infants requires immediate treatment.
Launching from the Mayo Clinic page, here are some symptoms of complications in babies after undergoing hydrocephalus treatment:
- The baby has a fever
- Irritable and irritable
- Often sleepy
- Nausea and vomiting
- The baby has a headache
- Experiencing vision problems
- There is redness and soreness of the skin along the course of the shunt tool flow
- The shunt valve area is painful in the abdomen
- Initial hydrocephalus symptoms recur
It is best not to underestimate the signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus in babies, whether they appear before treatment or after.
You are strongly advised to immediately take your little one to the doctor so that immediately get the right diagnosis and treatment to prevent growth problems.
Don't forget to routinely check your pregnancy and get immunizations during pregnancy to prevent the risk of hydrocephalus.
This is done to avoid the possibility of infection during pregnancy and premature birth that can increase the risk of hydrocephalus.
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