How to prevent hydrocephalus?

Written by Chen Yu Fei
Neurosurgery
Updated on September 03, 2024
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To prevent hydrocephalus, it is first recommended to cultivate good living habits, such as a diet low in salt and fat, and light in nature. Avoid eating overly greasy, spicy, and irritating foods. Additionally, engage in aerobic exercise daily, keeping it under 30 minutes, which can effectively prevent the occurrence of hydrocephalus. For patients with severe cranial trauma or serious central nervous system infections, toxic encephalopathy, etc., if the patient's condition is stable, a timely follow-up head CT scan should be conducted to dynamically observe changes in the patient’s condition. Furthermore, if some patients do not have clear contraindications for surgery, considering a lumbar puncture might be an option to maintain the fluid flow in the brain and prevent hydrocephalus.

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Can fetal hydrocephalus be kept?

Whether fetal hydrocephalus should result in termination must be determined based on a specific analysis of the particular medical condition at that time. Fetal hydrocephalus is merely a manifestation of an illness. It is essential to understand the root cause of the hydrocephalus to make a clear decision regarding the options available. If the hydrocephalus is combined with cranial malformations or abnormalities in the cerebral gyri and sulci or other congenital development defects, in general, such conditions are not survivable even into adulthood. There is no possibility of survival, and even if surgery is performed later, it cannot provide an effective treatment. However, in cases where conditions such as spina bifida occur, with active surgical intervention, these can have a very positive prognosis. Therefore, it is crucial to clearly identify the specific medical condition at the time to determine the most appropriate course of action.

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Is hydrocephalus serious?

Hydrocephalus is relatively serious. When hydrocephalus occurs, it gradually affects the patient's motor functions of the limbs, causing weakness in one or both sides, difficulty in lifting, walking impairments, difficulty performing fine motor actions, and ataxia. It may even lead to frequent falls. Additionally, there are significant cognitive impairments, characterized by reduced intelligence levels, decreased computational abilities, and even certain degrees of language dysfunctions. Patients may also exhibit significant personality changes, such as feelings of anxiety, depression, apathetic expressions, and a dislike for communication and interaction with others.

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How is hydrocephalus treated?

Hydrocephalus is caused by the continuous increase of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricular system of the brain. There are two types of hydrocephalus: obstructive hydrocephalus and communicating hydrocephalus, each with different treatment methods. Obstructive hydrocephalus is caused by obstructions such as tumors or blood clots, so removing tumors or clearing blood clots can relieve the obstruction and treat the hydrocephalus. On the other hand, communicating hydrocephalus usually has no obstruction; it is primarily caused by excessive production or insufficient absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. A common treatment is ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, which diverts cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles to the abdominal cavity to treat hydrocephalus.

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Is hydrocephalus easy to treat?

For patients with hydrocephalus, it is generally recommended to treat the condition surgically. Before the surgery, the patient should undergo a cranial CT or MRI to assess the type and severity of the hydrocephalus. If possible, a lumbar puncture should also be performed before the surgery to determine whether there is a significant increase in intracranial pressure, and a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid should be collected for routine and biochemical analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid. If there are no obvious contraindications to surgery, clinically, it is generally recommended to choose a ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Most patients respond well to the surgery, and the morphology of the ventricular system gradually returns to normal.

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Symptoms of hydrocephalus

For patients with hydrocephalus, it often leads to a series of symptoms and signs. For example, patients may experience mild cognitive impairments, manifesting as obvious memory loss, reduced intelligence, and weakened orientation ability in terms of time, space, and person recognition. In addition, most patients also suffer from motor dysfunction, showing symptoms like weakness in one or both legs, difficulty walking, unstable gait, and a tendency to fall. Some patients might even experience changes in emotion and personality. As the condition of cerebral hemorrhage gradually progresses, patients may exhibit symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.