THE CURRENT STATUS OF ENDOSCOPIC 3RD VENTRICULOSTOMY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NONCOMMUNICATING HYDROCEPHALUS

Improvements in the technology have made endoscopic third ventriculost omy safer than earlier technics of open third ventriculostomy as descr ibed by Scarf(14). Similarly, it is safer than the stereotactic techni cs used by Pierre-Kahn (10), Sayers (13), and Hoffman (4). The morbidi ty and mortality have decreased and the effectiveness has also increas ed (12, 15). Modern operations are based on Guiot's technique(2). In t he management of hydrocephalus third ventriculostomy has to be compare d with the treatment with intracranial shunts. Currently in our hands the procedure has a higher morbidity rate than a shunt operation. Our figures include those from our early experience (5) - more recent figu res show a lower complication rate. We believe the higher morbidity is acceptable as the chance of being permanently cured is 80% in favoura ble cases.