image: The collage depicts the concepts of evidence-based guidelines for best patient management. Included are depictions of a patient with hydrocephalus and various treatment modalities including insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt and endoscopic third ventriculostomy. Also included among the images are ultrasound imaging of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus, computer-assisted surgical navigation, and depictions of decreased ventricle size, which may reflect the results of treatment. view more
Credit: Artist: Andy Rekito. © Hydrocephalus Association, 2014.
Charlottesville, VA (November 1, 2014). The Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group is pleased to announce today's publication of "Pediatric hydrocephalus: systematic literature review and evidence-based guidelines," a supplement to the November issue of the Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. Authored by a volunteer task force from the pediatric neurosurgery community, the supplement offers a thorough evaluation of the current treatments for pediatric hydrocephalus as well as up-to-date evidence-based recommendations for their use.
Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is an excessive amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in chambers of the brain known as ventricles. Hydrocephalus is caused by an imbalance between the production and absorption of CSF. The causes of hydrocephalus are numerous, and the disorder can be congenital or acquired. Hydrocephalus is called "communicating" when CSF can still move from one ventricle to another and "non-communicating" when passage from one ventricle to another is blocked. The incidence of pediatric hydrocephalus is approximately 1 case in 500 live births.
The authors of this supplement, the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines Task Force, state, "pediatric hydrocephalus is the most common surgically correctable neurological problem in infants, children, and adolescents." If left uncorrected, the accumulation of CSF can exert pressure on critical brain structures, causing the patient to experience cognitive, visual, motor deficits, seizures, or even death. Even with treatment, the patient may face challenges due to treatment complications, the need for repeated treatment, or unsatisfactory outcomes. According to the authors, "current treatment methods are insufficient, and there is currently little agreement on the 'best' treatment, even among leading practitioners." To improve this situation, the authors decided to conduct a thorough evaluation of the various treatments of pediatric hydrocephalus currently in use and to disseminate their findings and recommendations to other practitioners.
Under the auspices of the Pediatric Section of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS), the Task Force conducted systematic reviews of the literature describing the current effectiveness of hydrocephalus treatments in infants, children, and adolescents. Included were patients with congenital or acquired hydrocephalus as well as communicating or non-communicating hydrocephalus. The Task Force examined relevant peer-reviewed articles published between January 1966 and March 2012 that describe current hydrocephalus treatments, treatment-related complications, and strategies to avoid or manage those complications.
The Task Force carefully evaluated the contents of each article and classified the quality of the evidence provided therein. Summaries of the contents of these articles are displayed in evidentiary tables throughout the supplement. The Task Force structured their treatment-related recommendations based on this evidence by the following methods endorsed by the AANS/CNS Guidelines Committee. The authors describe the basis of their recommendations in Part 1:
"Demonstrating the highest degree of clinical certainty, Class I evidence is used to support recommendations of the strongest type, defined as Level I recommendations. Level II recommendations reflect a moderate degree of clinical certainty and are supported by Class II evidence or a strong consensus of Class III evidence. Level III recommendations denote clinical uncertainty, which is supported by inconclusive or conflicting evidence or expert opinion."
The systematic reviews and guidelines document begins with a foreword followed by an introductory article on methodology and eight articles focusing on hydrocephalus-related topics:
- 1. Introduction to the systematic reviews and guidelines and a description of the methodology used in their development
2. Management of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus in premature infants
3. Endoscopic computer-assisted electromagnetic navigation and ultrasonography as technical adjuvants for shunt placement
4. Cerebrospinal fluid shunt or endoscopic third ventriculostomy for the treatment of hydrocephalus in children
5. Effect of valve type on cerebrospinal fluid shunt efficacy
6. Preoperative antibiotics for shunt surgery in children with hydrocephalus
7. Antibiotic-impregnated shunt systems versus conventional shunts in children
8. Management of cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection
9. Effect of ventricular catheter entry point and position
Parts 6 and 7 provide meta-analyses in addition to systematic reviews. Treatment recommendations are offered in each topic article, and the strength of each recommendation (Levels 1 through III) is clearly defined.
In summarizing the importance of these studies, the corresponding author, Dr. Ann Marie Flannery states, "I urge readers to look at the recommendations and the evidence together. The recommendations and the strength relate directly to the evidence we found. The Task Force was very conscientious about transparency and being sure that what we published was evidence-based."
For additional information, please contact:
Ms. Jo Ann M. Eliason, Communications Manager
Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group
One Morton Drive, Suite 200, Charlottesville, VA 22903
Email: jaeliason@thejns.org; Phone 434-982-1209; Fax 434-924-2702
The Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics is a monthly peer-reviewed journal focused on diseases and disorders of the central nervous system and spine in children. This journal contains a variety of articles, including descriptions of preclinical and clinical research as well as case reports and technical notes. The Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics is one of four monthly journals published by the JNS Publishing Group, the scholarly journal division of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons. Other peer-reviewed journals published by the JNS Publishing Group each month include the Journal of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Focus, and the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. All four journals can be accessed at http://www.thejns.org.
Founded in 1931 as the Harvey Cushing Society, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) is a scientific and educational association with more than 8,300 members worldwide. The AANS is dedicated to advancing the specialty of neurological surgery in order to provide the highest quality of neurosurgical care to the public. All active members of the AANS are certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Neurosurgery) of Canada or the Mexican Council of Neurological Surgery, AC. Neurological surgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of disorders that affect the entire nervous system including the brain, spinal column, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves. For more information, visit http://www.AANS.org.