Ultrasonographic evaluation of infantile hydrocephalus before and after shunting

Abstract

The authors present the results of a prospective study of 20 children with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus of nontumoral etiology and submitted to ventriculo- (or cyst-) peritoneal shunting with valve. The diagnosis was established by B-mode or real-time brain sonography, in association with another neuroradiological procedure (computed tomography, ventriculography with air or Dimer-X, cerebral angiography). Among the proposed measurements (cortical thickness, lateral ventricle height, III ventricle width and ventricular ratio) for pre- and postoperative comparison, the cortical thickness and the lateral ventricle height were the ones that changed significantly when analyzed by sonography. The routine use of brain sonography allowed the visualization of the ventricular catheter position and the diagnosis of complications, such as subdural collection, progressive enlargement of cysts, isolated IV ventricle, etc, even before symptoms arise. The authors conclude that sonography is easily performed, inexpensive and innocuous, and should be used routinely during the follow-up of children with hydrocephalus.

Medida da velocidade de fluxo nas artérias cerebrais utilizando ultra-som Doppler transfontanela antes e após o tratamento cirúrgico da hidrocefalia

“…O diagnóstico da hidrocefalia, amparado nas evidências clínicas, compreende hoje a utilização da ultra-sonografia (neurosonografia, NSG), tomografia computadorizada (TC) e ressonância magnética nuclear. A utilização da NSG em crianças com fontanela aberta que será utilizada como janela acústica tem sido amplamente descrita e difundida [2][3][4][5][6] mostrando ser técnica eficaz e segura no diagnóstico e acompanhamento das hidrocefalias, revestindo-se ainda de caráter de extrema benignidade ao evitar expor o cérebro imaturo dos recém-nascidos e lactentes à radiacão, podendo ser repetida sucessivas vezes e dispensando o uso de sedação para realização do exame.…”

Intraoperative ultrasound use in cranial neurosurgery

“…In children, neonatal acoustic windows allow quick assessment of the existence of intracranial lesions. The acoustic window has long been used in the evaluation of hydrocephalus or ventricular catheter position both intra-and postoperatively (28).…”

Canine Neonatal Transcranial Ultrasonography From Birth Until Closure of Bregmatic Fontanelle

“…Ultrasonography is a valuable diagnostic tool that has been used to diagnose brain diseases in infants and canine neonates [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. Brain ultrasonography was firstly used to image the dog's brain to visualize an experimentally induced intracranial lesions using A-mode electroencephalogram [13].…”