Hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus ('water on the brain', in Greek) is the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricless of the brain. This usually leads to raised intracranial pressure.
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2 History 3 Congenital hydrocephalus 4 Treatment |
The most common cause of hydrocephalus is disruption to cerebrospinal fluid circulation, which can be secondary to tumor, hemorrhage, infection or congenital malfomations.
About 80% of fetuses or newborn infants with spina bifida develop hydrocephalus.
This article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by fixing it.Causes
Hydrocephalus can be broadly classified as being caused by disturbance to normal production, flow or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.History
Hydrocephalus was first described by Hippocrates but was not adequately treated until the 20th century, when appropriate shunts and neurosurgical techniques were developed.Congenital hydrocephalus
In babies and infants with hydrocephalus, the head will enlarge because the bones are not joined together. One of the early symptoms of hydrocephalus in the newborn is that the fontanelles (soft spots) bulge and become firm.Treatment
Doctors treat hydrocephalus by putting a tube made of silastic, called a shunt, into the ventricles to help drain the fluid. Most shunts drain the fluid into the abdominal area, where it is absorbed, but some drain to the heart or even the bladder.
