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The prediction of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients with spina bifida

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Abstract

Object

The object was to derive a prediction rule for the development of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients with spina bifida by the measurement of cranial ventricular diameters using ultrasound.

Methods

Eighty-nine patients with spina bifida were studied prospectively. Each child had preoperative cranial ultrasound with measurement of the bifrontal diameter, bicaudate diameter and maximum transverse diameter of the body of the lateral ventricle by a single blinded observer. Repair of meningomyelocele was then undertaken and the patients followed up for development or progression of hydrocephalus. Logistic regression analysis determined the lowest values of the three cranial ventricular diameters associated with the maximum sensitivity and specificity for predicting postoperative hydrocephalus. These values were—bifrontal diameter >26 mm, bicaudate diameter >20 mm and body of lateral ventricle diameter >26 mm.

Conclusions

It is possible to predict the development of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients with spina bifida by measuring cranial ventricular dimensions using preoperative ultrasound.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Surgery, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, India

    Ashish Wakhlu

  2. 1/147 Vivek Khand, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, India

    Ashish Wakhlu

  3. Department of General Surgery, CSM Medical University, Lucknow, India

    Nisar Ahmed Ansari

Authors
  1. Ashish Wakhlu
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  2. Nisar Ahmed Ansari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashish Wakhlu.

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Wakhlu, A., Ansari, N.A. The prediction of postoperative hydrocephalus in patients with spina bifida. Childs Nerv Syst 20, 104–106 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0849-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-003-0849-3

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