Minimally-invasive treatment of communicating hydrocephalus using a percutaneous lumboperitoneal shunt.

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of a minimally-invasive treatment of communicating hydrocephalus using a percutaneous lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt.

Method: The clinical and long-term follow-up data of 256 patients suffering from communicating hydrocephalus and undergoing percutaneous LP shunt during 1998 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: After the follow-up, which lasted 6 months to 10 years, 219 cases of communicating hydrocephalus recovered well (ventricular size returned to normal and symptoms completely disappeared), 25 cases were brought under control (ventricle size reduced by 50% and symptoms partially abated), and 12 cases showed no obvious changes. Fifteen obese subjects needed modifications of the shunt due to the obstruction of the abdominal end following wrapping, and one subject underwent extubation as the subject was unable to tolerate stimulation of the cauda equina. The effectiveness of shunting was 91.40% and the probability of shunt-tube obstruction, which occurs predominantly in the abdominal end, was only 5.85%, far lower than that of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Three subjects had a history of infection following VP shunting.

Conclusion: LP shunting is minimally invasive and effective in treating communicating hydrocephalus, with fewer complications.