A SURVEY OF THE 1ST COMPLICATION OF NEWLY IMPLANTED CSF SHUNT DEVICESFOR THE TREATMENT OF NONTUMORAL HYDROCEPHALUS - COOPERATIVE SURVEY OFTHE 1991-1992 EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE ISPN

The results of an international multicenter study concerning the first complication of newly implanted cerebrospinal fluid shunts in nontumo ral hydrocephalus are the subject of the present report. The authors h ave collected information on 773 cases from four continents. In partic ular, the following data were evaluated in relation to the general inc idence of complications recorded in the first follow-up year: the pati ent's age at the operation, the etiology of hydrocephalus, the type of CSF shunt device used, and the modality of the surgical procedures. T he overall complication rate in the series was 29%. Age and etiology o f hydrocephalus appear to play a major role in influencing the complic ation rate; on the other hand, the choice of a specific CSF shunt devi ce seems to be less important in this respect.