Turkish Neurosurgery
Timing of shunt insertion in children with neural tube defects and hydrocephalus: Clinical study
Onur Ozgural1, Gokmen Kahilogullari1, Ihsan Dogan1, Umit Eroglu1, Fatih Yakar2, Mustafa Cemil Kilinc1, Emre Yagiz Sayaci1, Mustafa Agahan Unlu1
1Ankara University School of Medicine, Neurosurgery, Ankara,
2Pamukkale University School of Medicine, Neurosurgery, Denizli,
DOI: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.26588-19.1

Aim:Hydrocephalus is seen usually in the presence of midline closure defects. There is no consensus on shunt insertion time with these patients. The aim of this study is to define the optimal time of shunt insertion.Material and Methods:Seventy one patients who were operated for neural tube defects and hydrocephalus were evaluated retrospectively between 2012 and 2018. The first group included patients of forty-three who were operated in different times (in ten days after repair of defect) and twenty-eight patients who were operated at the same time formed the second group. Ruptured and unruptured sacs were considered immediately and operated in seventy-two hours. Results:In the first group forty-three patients were operated of neural tube defect after birth. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed in ten days after wound healing. There were five meningitis (11.6%) on follow-up. The second group that was operated at the same time, we did not come across any shunt infection or meningitis on follow up.Conclusion:The lowest complication rate existed in hydrocephalus management when shunt insertion and myelomeningocele repair procedures were performed at the same session.

Corresponding author : Onur Ozgural