Endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the treatment of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a review study

Abstract

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus is a hydrodynamic disorder whose etiology remains unclear. The diagnosis is mainly clinical and the traditional treatment is cerebrospinal fluid shunt diversion. With the introduction of modern management strategies, endoscopic third ventriculostomy has become a viable alternative to shunting and constitutes a well-established method of treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus. The new hydrodynamic concept of hydrocephalus suggests that endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) may be an effective treatment for communicative hydrocephalus. In our current review, the authors focus on the up-to-date knowledge regarding the consideration of endoscopic third ventriculostomy as a safe surgical option in the management of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. © 2015, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.