Improving Infant Hydrocephalus Outcomes in Uganda: Predicting Developmental Outcomes and Identifying Patients at Risk for Early Treatment Failure After ETV/CPC
Neonatal postinfectious hydrocephalus (PIH) is a major public health problem in East Africa.The standard treatment has long been placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) but these devices require life-long maintenance and nearly all fail multiple times. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) with Choroid Plexus Cauterization (ETV/CPC) is an alternate treatment to give patients a shunt-free life. In this study, the investigators aim to optimize the metrics of evaluation as quantitative prognostic indicators of treatment response and long term outcomes.
• Infants less than 180 days (six months) old
• Symptomatic hydrocephalus characterized by abnormal rate of head growth, full anterior fontanel, ventriculomegaly
• A parent or a guardian qualified by Ugandan law to give informed consent
• Patients from Eastern, Central and Northern districts of Uganda, and in geographic proximity to CURE hospital will be eligible