Endoscopic third ventriculostomy

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Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a surgical procedure in which an opening is created in the floor of the third ventricle using an endoscope placed within the ventricular system through a burr hole. This allows the cerebrospinal fluid to flow directly to the basal cisterns, thereby shortcutting any obstruction. It is used as an alternative to a cerebral shunt[1] to treat certain forms of obstructive hydrocephalus, such as aqueductal stenosis. Complications include subarachnoid hemorrhage, basilar artery injury and hypothalamic or pituitary injury.

You can see this surgery performed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKwz0Xbj-hw

When it is not possible to perform an ETV for different reasons, an alternative treatment is opening the lamina terminalis anterior to the third ventricle.[2] The effectiveness of this approach is not certain.[3]

External links

References

  1. ↑ Hydrocephalus and Treatment: Shunts and Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy, AboutKidsHealth.ca
  2. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20707616
  3. ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19284236


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