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Historical Aspects of Hydrocephalus and Its Treatments

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Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy

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Abstract

The word hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words “head” and “water,” being a disease known from ancient times. New anatomical concepts emerged when dissection became more commonplace, which was possible with the advent of the Renaissance. The understanding of this complex disease reached its apex at the end of the nineteenth century, and the first attempts at treatment appeared. No clinical treatment of hydrocephalus resulted in a definitive solution to the problem, so it is essentially a surgical disease. Neurosurgical attempts of treatment evolved from ventricular punctures and introduction of catheters in the ventricular cavities to modern and minimally invasive endoscopic techniques.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neurosurgery, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Roberto Alexandre Dezena

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Dezena, R.A. (2020). Historical Aspects of Hydrocephalus and Its Treatments. In: Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28657-6_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28657-6_1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28657-6

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