Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Update on the Surgical Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

  • Neuro-Ophthalmology (A Kawasaki, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a disorder of elevated intracranial pressure due to an unknown cause. In most cases, IIH can be managed with medical therapy and weight reduction. Surgical treatment of IIH is reserved for patients who cannot tolerate medical therapy, are nonadherent to medical therapy, develop progressive symptoms despite maximal medical therapy, or present with fulminant visual loss. To date, there has been no randomized controlled trial to evaluate the surgical treatment of IIH, and our current knowledge of the efficacy and complications of these procedures is based on retrospective and observational studies. This review discusses the indications for surgical intervention in IIH and provides an overview of the recently published data on the efficacy and complications of these interventions. A surgical management algorithm is also presented to guide the clinician when evaluating a patient with IIH.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

  1. Friedman DI, Jacobson DM. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neuroophthalmol. 2004;24(2):138–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Thambisetty M et al. Fulminant idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurology. 2007;68(3):229–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wall M. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2008;8(2):87–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Rasul FT et al. Pseudotumor cerebri presenting with visual failure in promyelocytic leukemia: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2012;6(1):408.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Feldon SE. Visual outcomes comparing surgical techniques for management of severe idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Neurosurg Focus. 2007;23(5):E6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Alsuhaibani AH et al. Effect of optic nerve sheath fenestration on papilledema of the operated and the contralateral nonoperated eyes in idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Ophthalmology. 2011;118(2):412–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Moreau A, Lao KC, Farris BK. Optic nerve sheath decompression: a surgical technique with minimal operative complications. J Neuroophthalmol. 2013. doi:10.1097/WNO.0000000000000065.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Corbett JJ et al. Results of optic nerve sheath fenestration for pseudotumor cerebri. The lateral orbitotomy approach. Arch Ophthalmol. 1988;106(10):1391–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Corbett JJ, Thompson HS. The rational management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Arch Neurol. 1989;46(10):1049–51.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Spitze A et al. Optic nerve sheath fenestration vs cerebrospinal diversion procedures: what is the preferred surgical procedure for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension failing maximum medical therapy? J Neuroophthalmol. 2013;33(2):183–8. This article discusses the merits of ONSF versus CSF diversion in the management of IIH in a point–counterpoint format by several neuro-ophthalmologists. Major case reports and case series on both ONSF and CSF diversion are reviewed.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Brazis PW. Clinical review: the surgical treatment of idiopathic pseudotumour cerebri (idiopathic intracranial hypertension). Cephalalgia. 2008;28(12):1361–73.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Sergott RC, Savino PJ, Bosley TM. Modified optic nerve sheath decompression provides long-term visual improvement for pseudotumor cerebri. Arch Ophthalmol. 1988;106(10):1384–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Banta JT, Farris BK. Pseudotumor cerebri and optic nerve sheath decompression. Ophthalmology. 2000;107(10):1907–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Thuente DD, Buckley EG. Pediatric optic nerve sheath decompression. Ophthalmology. 2005;112(4):724–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Wilkes BN, Siatkowski RM. Progressive optic neuropathy in idiopathic intracranial hypertension after optic nerve sheath fenestration. J Neuroophthalmol. 2009;29(4):281–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Gellrich NC et al. Degeneration of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve sheath fenestration in an experimental rat model. J Neuroophthalmol. 2009;29(4):275–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Curry Jr WT, Butler WE, Barker 2nd FG. Rapidly rising incidence of cerebrospinal fluid shunting procedures for idiopathic intracranial hypertension in the United States, 1988-2002. Neurosurgery. 2005;57(1):97–108, discussion 97-108.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Tarnaris A et al. Is there a difference in outcomes of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension with the choice of cerebrospinal fluid diversion site: a single centre experience. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2011;113(6):477–9. A retrospective review of 34 patients with IIH who underwent CSF diversion with a mean follow-up of 31.8 months. VPS patients had fewer complications than LPS patients.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Abubaker K et al. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: lumboperitoneal shunts versus ventriculoperitoneal shunts—case series and literature review. Br J Neurosurg. 2011;25(1):94–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Sinclair AJ et al. Is cerebrospinal fluid shunting in idiopathic intracranial hypertension worthwhile? A 10-year review. Cephalalgia. 2011;31(16):1627–33. A 10-year retrospective review of 53 patients who underwent CSF diversion (predominantly LPS) for management of IIH. Visual outcomes significantly improved after CSF shunting; however, headache persisted in most patients after surgery.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kandasamy J et al. Electromagnetic stereotactic ventriculoperitoneal CSF shunting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a successful step forward? World Neurosurg. 2011;75(1):155–60, discussion 32-3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Nadkarni TD, Rekate HL, Wallace D. Concurrent use of a lumboperitoneal shunt with programmable valve and ventricular access device in the treatment of pseudotumor cerebri: review of 40 cases. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2008;2(1):19–24.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. McGirt MJ et al. Cerebrospinal fluid shunt placement for pseudotumor cerebri-associated intractable headache: predictors of treatment response and an analysis of long-term outcomes. J Neurosurg. 2004;101(4):627–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Karabatsou K et al. Lumboperitoneal shunts: are the complications acceptable? Acta Neurochir (Wien). 2004;146(11):1193–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Higgins JN et al. Venous sinus stenting for refractory benign intracranial hypertension. Lancet. 2002;359(9302):228–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Puffer RC, Mustafa W, Lanzino G. Venous sinus stenting for idiopathic intracranial hypertension: a review of the literature. J Neurointerv Surg. 2013;5(5):483–6. A review of the current literature on venous sinus stenting for management of IIH. A total of 143 patients were analyzed. After venous sinus stenting, 88 % of patients had improvement in headache, 97 % had resolution of papilledema, and 87 % had improvement or resolution of visual symptoms.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Radvany MG et al. Visual and neurological outcomes following endovascular stenting for pseudotumor cerebri associated with transverse sinus stenosis. J Neuroophthalmol. 2013;33(2):117–22. The outcome results of 12 patients with IIH and transverse sinus stenosis who underwent venous sinus stenting after medical therapy had failed are presented. Approximately 90 % of patients had improvement in visual function after stenting, and 58 % of patients had improvement in headache. Venous sinus stenting in patients with evidence of transverse sinus stenosis has a significant positive effect on visual dysfunction.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Ducruet AF et al. Long-term patency of venous sinus stents for idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neurointerv Surg. 2013. doi:10.1136/neurintsurg-2013-010691.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ahmed RM et al. Transverse sinus stenting for pseudotumor cerebri: a cost comparison with CSF shunting. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2013. doi:10.3174/ajnr.A3806.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Newborg B. Pseudotumor cerebri treated by rice reduction diet. Arch Intern Med. 1974;133(5):802–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Johnson LN et al. The role of weight loss and acetazolamide in the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Ophthalmology. 1998;105(12):2313–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kupersmith MJ et al. Effects of weight loss on the course of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in women. Neurology. 1998;50(4):1094–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Wong R et al. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: the association between weight loss and the requirement for systemic treatment. BMC Ophthalmol. 2007;7:15.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Fridley J et al. Bariatric surgery for the treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neurosurg. 2011;114(1):34–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Egan RJ et al. The effects of laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Obes Surg. 2011;21(2):161–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Maggard-Gibbons M et al. Bariatric surgery for weight loss and glycemic control in nonmorbidly obese adults with diabetes: a systematic review. JAMA. 2013;309(21):2250–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Kim MK et al. The difference of glucostatic parameters according to the remission of diabetes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2012;28(5):439–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Juhasz-Pocsine K et al. Neurologic complications of gastric bypass surgery for morbid obesity. Neurology. 2007;68(21):1843–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sinha MK et al. Hyperoxaluric nephrolithiasis is a complication of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Kidney Int. 2007;72(1):100–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Slater GH et al. Serum fat-soluble vitamin deficiency and abnormal calcium metabolism after malabsorptive bariatric surgery. J Gastrointest Surg. 2004;8(1):48–55, discussion 54-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lee WJ et al. Effect of laparoscopic mini-gastric bypass for type 2 diabetes mellitus: comparison of BMI > 35 and <35 kg/m2. J Gastrointest Surg. 2008;12(5):945–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Schauer PR et al. Bariatric surgery versus intensive medical therapy in obese patients with diabetes. N Engl J Med. 2012;366(17):1567–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Scopinaro N et al. Long-term control of type 2 diabetes mellitus and the other major components of the metabolic syndrome after biliopancreatic diversion in patients with BMI < 35 kg/m2. Obes Surg. 2007;17(2):185–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mocco J et al. Aggressive cranial vault decompression for cranial hyperostosis: technical case report of two cases. Neurosurgery. 2005;57(1 Suppl):E212, discussion E212.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Ellis JA et al. Internal cranial expansion surgery for the treatment of refractory idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2012;10(1):14–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Compliance with Ethics Guidelines

Conflict of Interest

Nisha Mukherjee and M. Tariq Bhatti declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding was provided by an unrestricted departmental grant from Research to Prevent Blindness.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Tariq Bhatti.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Neuro-Ophthalmology

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mukherjee, N., Bhatti, M.T. Update on the Surgical Management of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 14, 438 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-014-0438-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-014-0438-8

Keywords

Navigation