Symptoms and treatment of external replacement hydrocephalus of the brain. Mixed replacement hydrocephalus of the brain in adults: signs and symptoms, diagnosis, types, treatment External and internal asymmetric hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus of the brain is a serious pathology characterized by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the head. It most often develops in young children, but adults are no exception. In them, dropsy is considered acquired, and any external signs of it are not visible.

If the disease is not detected in time, the person may even die. The effectiveness of treatment for hydrocephalus depends on when it was detected. Fluid accumulates in the subarachnoid regions, as well as the ventricular system.

What it is?

Hydrocephalus (dropsy) of the brain is a disease in which the volume of the ventricles of the brain increases. The main cause of this pathological condition is the excessive production of cerebrospinal fluid and its accumulation in the area of ​​the brain cavities. Dropsy predominantly occurs in newborns, but can also occur in older age groups.

Factors causing the disease

Some of the most common causes of cerebral hydrocephalus in adults are:

1. Previous ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke;
2. Congenital hydrocephalus
3. Neoplasms (tumor);
4. Infectious diseases (meningitis, encephalitis);
5. Traumatic brain injury;
6. Vascular pathology;
7. Alcoholic, toxic and other encephalopathies;
8. Intraventricular hemorrhages. Moreover, it does not matter whether the hemorrhage was caused by injury or not;
9. Disorders of the central nervous system.

Most often, this disease occurs in infants, but also develops in adults. Currently, research shows that almost any disorder of the central nervous system can provoke hydrocephalus.

Internal or closed hydrocephalus

This type of hydrocephalus is similar to the previous type, but in this case a large amount of cerebrospinal fluid is observed just inside the ventricles. The cause of the non-occlusive form is blockage of the cerebrospinal fluid ducts as a result of the inflammatory adhesive process, and the cause may also be intraventricular hemorrhage or tumor.

In case of any injury or blockage of the interventricular duct, asymmetrical hydrocephalus of the brain may occur. The growing enlargement of the ventricles causes the death of brain tissue, leading to flattening of the convolutions.

External or open hydrocephalus

This type of disease occurs due to excess cerebrospinal fluid in the SAH. However, it is worth highlighting that the cerebrospinal fluid directly in the ventricles of the brain is normal. The reasons for the development of this form are atherosclerosis, hypertension and traumatic brain injury.

This form is characterized by the absence of various symptoms, namely symptoms such as headache or increased blood pressure. It should also be noted that in this case, latent hydrocephalus often develops, as a result of which the volume of the brain can noticeably decrease, and the free space can be filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Mixed

From the name it becomes clear that cerebrospinal fluid fills both the ventricle of the brain and the subarachnoid space. More often occurs in older people as a result of insufficient stability of the cervical vertebrae, hypertension and atherosclerosis.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus, photos

With acutely developing occlusive hydrocephalus in adults, symptoms are caused by signs of increased intracranial pressure:

1. Nausea and vomiting are also observed in the morning; after vomiting, headache relief sometimes occurs.
2. Headache is especially pronounced in the morning upon awakening, which is explained by an additional increase in intracranial pressure during sleep.
3. Symptoms of axial dislocation of the brain are rapid depression of the patient’s consciousness up to a deep coma, while the patient assumes a forced position of the head, and oculomotor disorders appear. If compression of the medulla oblongata occurs, then signs of hydrocephalus are manifested by depression of cardiovascular activity and respiration, which can be fatal.
4. Drowsiness is one of the most dangerous signs of increased intracranial pressure; if drowsiness occurs, it means that a rapid, rather sharp deterioration of neurological symptoms is approaching.
5. Stagnation of the optic discs is a disruption of the axoplasmic flow in the optic nerve and increased pressure in the subarachnoid space around it, leading to visual impairment.

If chronic hydrocephalus develops, then the symptoms and clinical picture differ significantly from acute hydrocephalus in adults: Dementia - most often the first symptoms appear 15-20 days after injury, hemorrhage, meningitis or other disease:

1. A decrease in the patient’s general activity, he becomes inert, indifferent, indifferent, and lacking initiative.
2. A person confuses day with night, that is, he experiences drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night.
3. Memory is impaired - first of all, this is a decrease in short-term numerical memory, while the person incorrectly names months and dates, and forgets his age.
4. In the late advanced stages of the disease, severe mnestic-intellectual disorders may develop, when a person is not able to care for himself, he may not answer questions that are asked to him or answer in monosyllables, inadequately, think for a long time, pause between words.

Apraxia of walking is a syndrome when a person in a lying position can easily demonstrate how to walk or ride a bicycle, but when he gets up, he cannot walk normally, walks with his legs wide apart, sways, and shuffles.

Urinary incontinence, this symptom may not always be present, and is a late and unstable sign of hydrocephalus in adults.

Diagnostics

Currently, the following instrumental research methods are used to confirm and identify the cause of hydrocephalus:

1. Examination of the fundus by an ophthalmologist. If the optic discs are swollen, this indicates increased intracranial pressure, which may be a sign of hydrocephalus.
2. Measuring the head circumference with a centimeter tape (if a child’s head increases by more than 1.5 cm per month, this indicates hydrocephalus; an increase in the size of an adult’s head by any value indicates hydrocephalus).
3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the “gold standard” in the diagnosis of hydrocephalus. The method allows not only to diagnose hydrocephalus, but also to identify its causes and existing damage in the structure of brain tissue. The criteria for hydrocephalus according to MRI results are an interventricular index of more than 0.5 and periventricular edema.
4. Ultrasound of the skull (neurosonography - NSG). The method is used only in children of the first year of life, in whom the brain can be examined through an open fontanel. Since in children over one year old and adults the fontanel is overgrown and the skull bones are too dense, the NSG method is not suitable for them. This method is very approximate and imprecise, so its results can be considered the basis for an MRI, and not for making a diagnosis of hydrocephalus.
5. Echoencephalography (EEG) and rheoencephalography (REG) are uninformative methods, which, nevertheless, are used to “diagnose” hydrocephalus. The results of REG and EEG studies can be completely ignored when deciding whether a person has hydrocephalus or not.
6. Computed tomography (CT) is a method similar to MRI, but much less accurate and therefore used relatively rarely.

To accurately identify or reject suspicions of hydrocephalus, it is necessary to evaluate symptoms, conduct an MRI examination and fundus examination. If all studies give results “for” hydrocephalus, then the suspicion of the presence of the disease is considered confirmed. If the data from any of the three indicated studies do not indicate hydrocephalus, then the person does not have this disease, and the existing symptoms were provoked by another pathology that needs to be identified.

Treatment of hydrocephalus

The initial stages of hydrocephalus can be treated with medication. The following medications are used for this:

• to reduce intracranial pressure and remove excess fluid (provided that the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid is preserved) - diacarb (acetazolamide), mannitol and mannitol in combination with furosemide or lasix. Mandatory for this treatment is the correction of potassium levels in the body, for this they use asparkam (panangin);
• To improve the nutrition of brain tissue, Cavinton (vinpocetine), Actovegin (solcoseryl), gliatilin, choline, cortexin, Cerebrolysin, Semax, Memoplant, etc. are indicated.

Clinically advanced hydrocephalus is subject to surgical treatment; medication methods improve the condition for a short time.

Chronic hydrocephalus requires cerebrospinal fluid shunting operations. This type of surgical treatment involves the removal of excess cerebrospinal fluid into the natural cavities of the human body using a complex system of catheters and valves (abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity, atrium, etc.): ventriculoperitoneal, ventriculoatrial, cystoperitoneal shunting. Unimpeded absorption of excess cerebrospinal fluid occurs in the body cavities. These operations are quite traumatic, but when performed correctly, they allow patients to recover and achieve their labor and social rehabilitation.

Acute hydrocephalus, as a life-threatening condition, requires immediate neurosurgical treatment. It consists of craniotomy and the application of external drainages to ensure the outflow of excess fluid. This is called external ventricular drainage. In addition, through the drainage system it is possible to administer drugs that dilute blood clots (since intraventricular hemorrhage is one of the most common causes of acute hydrocephalus).

Today, the less traumatic neuroendoscopic technique has taken first place among invasive treatment methods. It is still more often performed abroad due to the high cost of the operation itself. This method is called: endoscopic ventriculocisternostomy of the bottom of the third ventricle. The operation lasts only 20 minutes. With this method of treatment, a surgical instrument with a neuroendoscope (camera) at the end is inserted into the ventricles of the brain.

The camera allows you to display the image using a projector and accurately control all manipulations. An additional hole is created at the bottom of the third ventricle, connecting to the cisterns of the base of the brain, which eliminates the cause of hydrocephalus. Thus, the physiological fluid flow between the ventricles and cisterns is restored.

Complications of the disease

Patients, provided they are diagnosed in a timely manner and undergo therapy, may well live the rest of their lives without significant complications.

In some cases, speech impairment is observed. There may be problems with the shunt malfunctioning or infection during its installation, which requires its reinstallation. In particularly complex and advanced cases of hydrocephalus in adults, disability is possible.

Forecast

The prognosis for this disease depends on the underlying cause and the time spent on diagnosis and appropriate therapy. Some restrictions on future life activities are possible. In some cases, dysfunction of the speech apparatus may occur.

Bottom line

It is obvious that the treatment of hydrocephalus in adults should be symptomatic, that is, it should include an impact on the underlying disease and its symptoms. Treatment measures directly aimed at the clinical manifestations of a particular pathology have already been described in sections of our website. However, once again I really want to warn patients and, especially, their relatives about the inappropriateness of self-treatment:

Only a neurologist is able to prevent the progression of the pathological process and aggravation of the severity of the disease, since he has the necessary knowledge and qualifications.

As for children, special attention and responsibility are required from doctors and, of course, parents. It should be remembered that early diagnosis and timely treatment can ensure the baby’s normal development and a fulfilling future life. You cannot give up under any circumstances; you must use all the methods proposed by modern medicine. And the disease will be defeated!

Various neurological pathologies are increasingly common in modern people. And the reason for this, as a rule, is not only the depressing state of the environment, but also the dizzying rhythm of modern life, frequent stress and other diverse and very dangerous factors that have already become part of our everyday life. One of the most serious and widespread neurological diseases is external replacement hydrocephalus, more popularly known as “dropsy of the brain.”

Definition and general characteristics of the disease

The popular name very accurately and quite fully characterizes the essence of this pathology. But if expressed in the language of medical terminology, then external replacement hydrocephalus is a nosological form of various pathological manifestations in the space of the cranium, characterized by a significant expansion of the ventricular system of the brain and a strong narrowing of the subarachnoid cavities due to excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid, also called cerebrospinal fluid, as a result of various disorders of its circulation, absorption or secretion. The main characteristic of this serious disease is a significant decrease in the volume of the brain matter and the filling of the vacated space with liquor fluid.

Causes of hydrocephalic pathology

Forms of hydrocephalic syndrome and its symptoms

According to the nature of its course, replacement hydrocephalus is divided into active and passive forms. The first is characterized by a significant expansion of the liquor-containing cavities and requires immediate treatment. In the passive (latent) form of hydrocephalus, expansion of the liquor-containing spaces is observed due to the primary destruction of the structural tissues of the cerebral cortex by various pathological processes. As for the symptoms of this pathology, it is usually manifested by nausea, vomiting and (at a later stage) dysfunction of the vestibular apparatus - loss of coordination of movements.

Diagnostics

The leading diagnostic methods that allow timely detection of hidden hydrocephalic processes are computer and magnetic resonance imaging, isotope encephalography, which is quite effective for the timely detection of destructive changes occurring in the cranial cavities. X-rays, ultrasound, and angiography are often used as aids to clarify the diagnosis.

Treatment

External replacement hydrocephalus, the treatment of which requires a particularly responsible approach and professionalism from the doctor, and patience, understanding and awareness of the complexity of this clinical case on the part of the patient, often involves surgical intervention. Since it is not possible to achieve a significant clinical effect using medicinal methods. And through shunt surgery, in 80% of cases it is possible to completely remove the excess amount of cerebrospinal fluid and thereby return the patient to a healthy life. Among the medicinal methods, one can highlight the use of the drug “Diacarb” - a powerful diuretic that restores the functions of the central nervous system and controls the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Diseases of the central nervous system in modern society are becoming a real problem for patients suffering from these diseases and for doctors who have to prescribe treatment. Very often, inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, its injuries and malformations, pathological changes affecting the vessels of the arterial and venous beds are accompanied by the occurrence of external replacement hydrocephalus of the brain.

The essence of this syndrome is that that in the central structures of the nervous system the delicate balance between the production of cerebrospinal fluid and its reabsorption is disturbed. The volume of cerebrospinal fluid is constantly increasing, which leads to the fact that it accumulates in the cranial cavity - in the spaces located between the membranes of the brain and its substance.

Excessive amounts of fluid form in spaces that are located outside the structures included in the brain - which is why this condition has a better prognosis than pathological processes affecting the ventricles of the brain. This pathology almost never poses a visible threat to the patient’s life and, if detected in a timely manner, is more easily amenable to drug correction.

Much less often, the cause of the development of external replacement hydrocephalus is inflammatory processes, which result in disruption of the normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the spaces located around the brain - its production does not increase, but local stagnation is formed (most often due to previous serous or purulent meningitis)

It is important to understand that the space enclosed in the cranial cavity has a finite volume - an increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid inevitably leads to external compression of the brain. As a result, the number of cells of the nervous tissue (various structures of the central nervous system) progressively decreases, which causes the appearance of characteristic symptoms of this condition, which force the patient to seek qualified medical help.

Often occurs with mental disorders.

Causes of external hydrocephalus

Experts believe that the main mechanism explaining the development of external replacement hydrocephalus is an imbalance between the formation of cerebrospinal fluid (its production can increase against the background of vascular and metabolic diseases of the brain and their complications) and absorption, which is disrupted as a result of inflammatory processes affecting the substance of the brain and its shells.

The most common causes of external replacement hydrocephalus in patients of different ages are:

• in children in the neonatal period and early age - intrauterine hypoxia and infection of the nervous system suffered before birth or in the first months of life;
• in children of preschool and school age, adolescents and adults - infections of the nervous system, exogenous and endogenous intoxications, disorders of metabolic processes in the body, brain injuries (including long-term ones);
• in elderly patients - age-related changes in blood vessels and diffuse metabolic disorders in the body (common forms of atherosclerosis).

It must be remembered that effective treatment of this condition, necessary to restore normal well-being, is possible only after establishing the true cause of the disease and prescribing etiotropic treatment (therapy that affects the cause). Otherwise, the prescription of symptomatic treatment will improve the patient’s condition only for a very short period of time, and the symptoms of external replacement hydrocephalus will appear again and again.

Despite the fact that the course of this form of hydrocephalus is benign and a clear clinical picture of the disease develops in the later stages, the prognosis remains unfavorable - the volume of cerebrospinal fluid inside the cranial cavity cannot exceed a certain limit value, upon reaching which compression of the brain itself begins. However, with this variant of the disease there is never a significant increase in blood pressure (unless there are concomitant pathologies that can be complicated by hypertension).

Diagnosis of replacement intracranial external hypertension

The examination program for a patient with this disease must include:

• Magnetic resonance imaging;
• CT scan;
• angiography of cerebral vessels, vertebral and carotid arteries;
• radiography of the skull in two projections;
• neurosonography of the brain - this research method can be used in children until the fontanelles of the skull close);
• serological blood tests to identify the true cause of the disease (causative agent of infection that can affect the brain) - toxoplasmosis, herpes virus, and cytomegalovirus.

The examination must be repeated once every 6 months, even if the patient’s condition remains stable and he does not present any complaints - if symptoms of hydrocephalus progression appear, an extraordinary examination is necessary.

Treatment of replacement intracranial external hypertension

The treatment program for this condition should focus on:

• eliminating the cause of the disease (if possible)
• elimination of symptoms of hypertension using conservative methods - diuretics are prescribed that can affect the production of cerebrospinal fluid (diacarb), vascular and trophic drugs;
• elimination of symptoms of hypertension by surgical methods - performing a spinal puncture, shunting the meningeal spaces of the brain using traditional and endoscopic neurosurgical interventions.

The appearance of the first signs of deterioration (headache, sleep disturbances, behavioral changes) should alert the patient and force him to seek medical help - it must be remembered that brain neurons are very sensitive to external influences and have very little ability to recover.

External replacement hydrocephalus (ERH) of the brain is the most common form of hydrocephalus, which is popularly called dropsy.

Due to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, cerebrospinal fluid is absorbed into the skull.

NDH is characterized by a decrease in brain volume; the space freed from brain cells begins to fill with cerebrospinal fluid.

Another difference between NDH and other forms of dropsy is that the disease can develop without obvious symptoms, even over several years.

Symptoms of the disease

External replacement hydrocephalus most often has the following symptoms:

• headache;
• increased blood pressure;
• different parts of the body go numb, most often the limbs;
• a person may feel short of breath;
• darkens in the eyes;
• there are coordination problems;
• nausea;
• drowsiness.

There is no age limit for the appearance of NDH. Both older people and young children can get sick.

Causes of replacement hydrocephalus

In older people, NDH most often occurs due to atherosclerosis or high blood pressure.

The cause of the onset of the disease may be alcohol abuse.

Those who have suffered a concussion are at risk.

In newborns and young children, NDH can begin due to an infection of the nervous system before birth or in the first weeks of life. The reason may also be intrauterine hypoxia.

In older children, adolescents and adults, the disease can develop as a result of metabolic or cervical vertebrae dysfunction, infection of the nervous system, brain injury, endogenous or exogenous intoxication.

Classification of the disease

External replacement hydrocephalus of the brain is classified according to types:

1. In origin, the disease can be hereditary or acquired.
2. According to the nature of the development of the disease, acute, subacute and chronic NMH are divided. In the acute form, it takes up to 3 days from the appearance of the first symptoms to the appearance of disorders in the brain. The subacute form of NDH lasts for approximately a month. The chronic form develops over 6 months or longer.

The passive form of the disease is called “moderate severe external hydrocephalus.” Doctors believe that this form is more dangerous than the progressive form. It's a matter of absence symptoms. When the patient realizes that the problem still exists, externally, replacement hydrocephalus is quite advanced.

Disease may have a constant course. In this case, the volume of the brain does not decrease, and the volume of cerebrospinal fluid does not increase.

If the patient feels satisfactory, the treatment is mild. The patient is prescribed regular observation by a specialist and examinations.

With the progressive nature of NDH, it is necessary to treat with drastic methods.

Otherwise, the patient faces dementia or urinary incontinence, severe headaches and impaired motor functions. Sometimes an exacerbation or too late going to the hospital leads to the death of the patient.

Diagnosis of the disease

The examination program for patients with suspected NDH consists of from:

• computed tomography (CT);
• magnetic resonance imaging ();
• angiography of the vertebral and carotid arteries, cerebral vessels;
• blood tests for the presence of pathogens of rubella, syphilis, herpes and toxoplasmosis, which may be the root cause of the appearance of NDH;
• fundus examinations;
• lumbar puncture;

The examination is repeated every 6 months. It is necessary even if the patient does not feel symptoms and his condition is stable. If signs of progressive MH appear, an emergency examination is prescribed.

Treatment of external hydrocephalus

The photo shows external hydrocephalus of the brain in a child

Methods to combat the disease may be different.

Doctors, depending on the results of the examination, draw up a treatment program.

Which may include conservative and surgical techniques.

For treatment of external hydrocephalus in adults to be successful, doctors and patients need to achieve several goals:

1. If possible, eliminate root causes appearance of NDH.
2. Eliminate symptoms. For this, conservative methods are used - trophic and vascular drugs, diuretics, which have a positive effect on the process of cerebrospinal fluid production. A satisfactory result of therapy is considered to be a decrease in swelling and a stable state of intracranial pressure.
3. Symptoms can be eliminated by surgical methods. Doctors prescribe a spinal puncture and, using endoscopic and neurosurgical interventions, perform shunting of the meningeal spaces of the brain.
4. Outpatient treatment takes place in a complex. The patient is offered medications, salt-pine baths and restorative therapy. These methods of therapy are prescribed for a calm and constant course of NDH. Medications that can be prescribed for a long period include diuretics and medications that contain potassium to maintain electrolyte balance.

Surgical methods of treatment

They are resorted to if the disease begins to progress.

Shunt surgery is very effective, restoring normal circulation of cerebrospinal fluid. But it may have complications.

After this type of surgery, the patient quite often needs to undergo repeated operations throughout his life to revise the shunt.

Endoscopic treatment of NDH is considered a more advanced and priority neurosurgical method. Endoscopy compared to bypass surgery has impressive advantages:

1. Shunt implantation is not used. This significantly reduces the risk of complications.
2. It is possible to restore the physiological circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.
3. The intensity of surgical intervention is less, the body tolerates the operation more easily.
4. This operation costs less.
5. The postoperative period and the patient's recovery are much easier and faster.

Today, the only way to combat external replacement hydrocephalus is surgical treatment.

Conservative methods can only stop the development of this disease.

Disease Prevention

If external hydrocephalus of the brain is noticed in a timely manner in children, and treatment is completed in a timely manner, stabilization of all processes and a return to normal development occurs in most cases.

In adolescents and adults, timely and correct treatment also often leads to complete recovery.

Also worth remember:

1. Infections have been identified as the causes of the appearance of NDH. For prevention purposes, they should be avoided.
2. Alcohol abuse causes the development of a huge number of diseases. This too must be abandoned.
3. Atherosclerosis and hypertension are also included in the list of root causes of the onset of MGD, but these diseases arise as a result of low physical activity and poor nutrition. Eating healthy foods and moving will reduce your risk of developing IDD.
4. After suffering a concussion, it is reasonable to undergo an examination. The sooner doctors notice the first signs of NDH, the higher the chances of success in treatment.

If dangerous changes occur in your body, you always feel it.

Even without obvious symptoms, a person subconsciously understands that something is wrong with his body. Don’t be lazy, don’t be afraid that you will be considered paranoid, go for an examination. Early diagnosis for any disease is already 50% success.

Replacement hydrocephalus of the brain is one of the types of the disease: the substance of the brain gradually decreases in volume and is replaced by cerebrospinal fluid.

Hydrocephalus is an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles and subarachnoid space of the brain.

The disease (its other name is dropsy) is more often diagnosed in old age and requires mandatory treatment.

Causes of pathology

The immediate cause of hydrocephalus is a violation of the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid through natural channels.

In some cases, doctors are unable to find out the reason why replacement cerebral hydrocele develops.

Classification

There are several forms in which the disease manifests itself:

• brain - a classic form of the disease, in which the volume of the brain decreases, and the space previously occupied by the medulla is filled with cerebrospinal fluid;
• brain, in which the bulk of the fluid accumulates in the ventricles of the brain;
• mixed replacement hydrocephalus of the brain, in which cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the ventricles and in the space under the membranes of the brain - the subarachnoid cavity.

Hydrocephalus of all types tends to progress, so complex treatment of the disease is almost always required.

Mixed, internal and external varieties necessarily give characteristic symptoms that force patients to go to the clinic.

Doctors also detect moderate replacement hydrocephalus of the brain - a form in which the disease does not progress, but proceeds in a latent form for a long time.

Despite the fact that a person may feel normal, sooner or later disturbances in the blood circulation of the brain will appear, so moderate hydrocephalus also requires timely therapeutic intervention.

Signs

Replacement hydrocephalus (external, internal and mixed) is localized in the intracranial space and directly affects the central nervous system.

Symptoms of the disease can be very diverse:

• headaches, heaviness in the head (these symptoms are most pronounced in the morning);
• pressure changes;
• palpitations and arrhythmia;
• excessive sweating;
• nausea and vomiting;
• drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night;
• decreased performance, fatigue;
• nervousness, irritability;
• blurred vision;
• change in gait.

In later stages, brain symptoms become more intense. Patients suffer from memory lapses, cannot perform simple operations with numbers in their minds, and become absent-minded.

A decrease in intelligence can lead to dementia (dementia) and other mental disorders. Complications of dropsy also include epileptic seizures and coma.

Diagnostics

Replacement hydrocephalus in all its forms is detected using:

• magnetic resonance and, allowing to assess the extent of the disease and the localization of the fluid;
• fundus examination();
• examination of the cerebrospinal fluid using a lumbar puncture (a sample of cerebrospinal fluid is taken through the hole with a thin needle);
• (for the presence of pathogenic microorganisms);
• Contrast radiography - (a study using a contrast liquid that is injected into the vessels).

Based on the diagnosis, treatment is prescribed.

Therapy

Conservative treatment

External, as well as internal and mixed varieties of the disease in acute phases require immediate treatment.

To do this, doctors first remove a small amount of fluid through punctures in the skull.

Further treatment of replacement hydrocephalus of the brain depends on the severity of the disease.

Sometimes drug treatment is prescribed using drugs that regulate intracranial pressure and stimulate blood supply to the central nervous system.

General strengthening treatment, physiotherapy, balneotherapy - pine and salt baths, anti-inflammatory therapy are also prescribed.

Surgery

Conservative treatment is not always successful, so doctors perform radical therapy - surgery. Procedures such as bypass surgery and endoscopic surgeries are performed.

— creation of a workaround for liquor. Flexible tubes are placed in the intracranial cavity and removed into the internal media of the body - most often into the peritoneum.

Operations are fraught with complications, since shunts often become clogged, bent and become unusable. This leads to the need for emergency shunt replacement.

The priority direction in modern treatment of cerebral hydrocele is neurosurgical endoscopic operations.

A hole is made in the cerebral ventricles through which fluid flows into the cisterns of the brain. The progress of the operation is monitored on the monitor screen, since the endoscope is equipped with a mini video camera.

Endoscopic treatment avoids extensive intervention and has virtually no complications. At the same time, the patient’s quality of life improves - he does not need to undergo regular revision of shunts and fear sudden clogging of the tube.

Replacement external dropsy is most often a lifelong diagnosis, so the patient, even if the treatment is successful, needs to undergo regular examination of his condition in a clinic.

Prevention

Diseases can be prevented if timely treatment of infectious diseases is carried out, as well as monitoring the normal functioning of the vascular system.

A healthy lifestyle - giving up alcoholism, smoking, and foods that negatively affect the condition of the vessels of the circulatory system - also reduces the likelihood of developing substitutive hydrocele of the brain.

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