Pediatric neuroendoscopy in Chile - Analysis of the first 100 cases

The personal series of the first 100 cases of neuroendoscopy performed at t he Pediatric Neurosurgery Service of the Institute of Neurosurgery Alfonso Asenjo in Santiago-Chile is presented. The patients were the first to under go endoscopic operations for different types of hydrocephalus and their age s ranged from newborn up to 15 years. Their clinical records, surgical prot ocols, radiologic results, videos and followup are reviewed. A mortality of 2% and a morbidity of 7% were found in this group, hemorrhage, ventriculit is and CSF leakage being the main problems. Success was achieved in more th an 75% of cases in the whole series. If we only consider the group of III v entriculostomies performed in noncommunicating hydrocephalus, our success r ate rises to 90%. Follow-up ranges from 30 months in the first case to 2 mo nths in the last case considered. All patients were operated on by the auth or using a rigid Gaab scope with 5.8 mm OD coupled to a Codman light source and a microcamera. Surgical technique was always the same using a right pr ecoronal burr hole. Prophylaxis with vancomycin was indicated in all cases. General, partial and specific results are presented and allow the conclusi on that this is an excellent procedure when it is well indicated. It means a great saving in shunts and treatments and has become an alternative to sh unts in all neurosurgical units.