[Postoperative patterns of improvement of symptoms and degrees of satisfaction in families of patients after operations for definite idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a long-term follow-up study].

Purpose: To clarify the patterns of improvement of pre- and post-operative symptoms and family satisfaction in patients with definite idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPN) who responded well to shunt intervention.

Subjects And Methods: The subjects included 40 patients definitively diagnosed with iNPH and who were followed up for one year or longer (age, 61-85; male-to-female ratio, 18: 22). The study focused on (1) preoperative clinical symptoms, (2) improvements in symptoms at 1, 3, 5, and 12 months after surgery, and the satisfaction of the families based on medical results of the Zarit caregiver burden interview, and infomation through questionnaires to medical personnel.