Neurosurgical shunt treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus: Epidemiology and influencing factors on revision surgeries - a single-centre retrospective analysis of 131 patients

BACKGROUND: Paediatric hydrocephalus is a result of a dysfunction of cerebrospinal fluid circulation, and it has diverse pathogeneses. This study investigates the epidemiology of paediatric hydrocephalus, as well as the influences of primary aetiology and implant type on treatment complications and the development of new therapeutic approaches and strategies. METHODS: Between 2013 and 2018, a retrospective analysis of 131 children, who were suffering from hydrocephalus, was conducted. Medical charts, operative reports and clinical follow-up visits were reviewed. Statistical analysis was performed using t-test/ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis test/Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: The most common pathogeneses of hydrocephalus among our patients were meningomyelocele-associated and posthaemorrhagic. The majority of patients received a programmable differential pressure valve (PPV, 77.8%) or a fixed differential pressure valve with a gravitational unit (FPgV, 14.8%). Among 333 shunt-associated surgeries, 66% of surgeries were revision surgeries and were performed because of mechanical shunt dysfunction (61%), infection (12%), or other reasons (27%). The median rate of revisions within one year for each patient was 0.15 (IQR25-75: 0.00-0.68) and was influenced by aetiology (p = 0.045) and valve type (p = 0.029). The highest rates were seen in patients with posthaemorrhagic hydrocephalus and in those with FPgVs; the lowest rates were seen in patients with and PPVs. The occurrence of mechanical dysfunctions was correlated with FPgV patients (p = 0.014). Furthermore, the median time interval between initial shunt surgery and onset of infection was shorter than that between initial surgery and mechanical dysfunction (p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Based on this research, we can state several factors that influence revision surgeries in paediatric shunt patients. With the assessment of patients' risk profiles, physicians can classify paediatric shunt patients and thus avoid unnecessary examinations or invasive procedures. Furthermore, medical providers can prevent revision surgeries if they choose shunt material in accordance with a patient's associated shunt complications.