Negative-Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Case Report on Successful Treatment Under Intracranial Pressure Monitoring with Bilateral Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts

World Neurosurg. 2017 Mar:99:812.e7-812.e12. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2016.12.049. Epub 2016 Dec 23.

Abstract

Background: Negative-pressure hydrocephalus (NegPH), a very rare condition of unknown etiology and optimal treatment, usually presents postneurosurgery with clinical and imaging features of hydrocephalus, but with negative cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Case description: We describe a NegPH case of -3 mm Hg intracranial pressure that was successfully treated to achieve 5 mm Hg under continuous intracranial pressure monitoring with horizontal positioning, head down and legs elevated to 10°-15°, neck wrapping for controlled venous drainage, chest and abdomen bandages, infusion of 5% dextrose fluid to lower plasma osmolarity (Na+, 130-135 mmol/L), daily cerebrospinal fluid drainage >200 mL, and arterial blood gas partial pressure of carbon dioxide >40 mm Hg.

Keywords: Low-pressure hydrocephalus; Titrated CSF drainage; Treatment of negative-pressure hydrocephalus; Very low–pressure hydrocephalus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bandages*
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
  • Cranial Fossa, Posterior
  • Drainage
  • Epidermal Cyst / diagnostic imaging
  • Epidermal Cyst / surgery*
  • Glucose / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / complications
  • Hydrocephalus / therapy*
  • Intracranial Hypotension / complications
  • Intracranial Hypotension / therapy*
  • Intracranial Pressure
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Osmolar Concentration
  • Patient Positioning / methods*
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Substances

  • Glucose