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Adjustable valves in normal-pressure hydrocephalus: a retrospective study of 218 patients.

Zemack, Göran LU and Romner, Bertil LU (2008) In Neurosurgery 62 Suppl 2. p.2-1400
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the value of adjusting shunt valve opening pressure, complications, and outcomes with the use of an adjustable shunt valve in the treatment of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). METHODS: In a single-center retrospective study, 231 adjustable valves (range, 30-200 mm H2O) were the first shunt implantations in 147 patients with idiopathic NPH (INPH) and 71 patients with secondary NPH (SNPH). The effect of adjustment on gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and other symptoms were evaluated, and an improvement index was created. RESULTS: In the INPH group, 138 adjustments were performed in 49.0% of the patients (average, 0.94 adjustments/patient). For the SNPH group, 49... (More)
OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the value of adjusting shunt valve opening pressure, complications, and outcomes with the use of an adjustable shunt valve in the treatment of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). METHODS: In a single-center retrospective study, 231 adjustable valves (range, 30-200 mm H2O) were the first shunt implantations in 147 patients with idiopathic NPH (INPH) and 71 patients with secondary NPH (SNPH). The effect of adjustment on gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and other symptoms were evaluated, and an improvement index was created. RESULTS: In the INPH group, 138 adjustments were performed in 49.0% of the patients (average, 0.94 adjustments/patient). For the SNPH group, 49 adjustments were performed in 32.4% of the patients (average, 0.69 adjustments/patient). The reasons for adjustment were overdrainage in 48 patients (25.7%), underdrainage in 98 patients (52.4%), subdural hematoma in 37 patients (19.8%), and other reasons in 2 patients (2.1%). Clinical status improved after 56 (49.1%) of all 114 adjustments, whereas 23 (42.6%) of 54 minor (< or = 20 mm H2O) and 33 (66.0%) of 50 larger adjustments improved the patient's clinical status. The correlation of the improvement index with the size of the individual adjustments was not significant. Complications occurred in 43 (19.7%) of 218 patients, valve malfunction occurred in 3 patients (1.3%), infection occurred in 14 patients (6.4%), and nontraumatic subdural effusion occurred in 15 patients (6.9%; 8 were treated by adjustment alone). The 5-year shunt survival rate was 80.2%. Outcomes were excellent or good in 71 (78.9%) of 90 patients with INPH and in 30 (69.8%) of 43 patients with SNPH. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive, particularly consecutive, minor or single larger adjustments to the valve opening pressure can further improve outcome in patients with NPH who undergo shunting. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Neurosurgery
volume
62 Suppl 2
pages
2 - 1400
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:18596437
ISSN
0148-396X
DOI
10.1227/01.neu.0000316272.28209.af
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Clinic of Neurosurgery: University Hospital, Lund (LUR000009), Division IV (013230800)
id
3bbdf020-da61-4f48-af89-487c82a0d41a (old id 1243064)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18596437?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:04:14
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:50:34
@article{3bbdf020-da61-4f48-af89-487c82a0d41a,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the value of adjusting shunt valve opening pressure, complications, and outcomes with the use of an adjustable shunt valve in the treatment of patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). METHODS: In a single-center retrospective study, 231 adjustable valves (range, 30-200 mm H2O) were the first shunt implantations in 147 patients with idiopathic NPH (INPH) and 71 patients with secondary NPH (SNPH). The effect of adjustment on gait disturbance, cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and other symptoms were evaluated, and an improvement index was created. RESULTS: In the INPH group, 138 adjustments were performed in 49.0% of the patients (average, 0.94 adjustments/patient). For the SNPH group, 49 adjustments were performed in 32.4% of the patients (average, 0.69 adjustments/patient). The reasons for adjustment were overdrainage in 48 patients (25.7%), underdrainage in 98 patients (52.4%), subdural hematoma in 37 patients (19.8%), and other reasons in 2 patients (2.1%). Clinical status improved after 56 (49.1%) of all 114 adjustments, whereas 23 (42.6%) of 54 minor (&lt; or = 20 mm H2O) and 33 (66.0%) of 50 larger adjustments improved the patient's clinical status. The correlation of the improvement index with the size of the individual adjustments was not significant. Complications occurred in 43 (19.7%) of 218 patients, valve malfunction occurred in 3 patients (1.3%), infection occurred in 14 patients (6.4%), and nontraumatic subdural effusion occurred in 15 patients (6.9%; 8 were treated by adjustment alone). The 5-year shunt survival rate was 80.2%. Outcomes were excellent or good in 71 (78.9%) of 90 patients with INPH and in 30 (69.8%) of 43 patients with SNPH. CONCLUSION: Noninvasive, particularly consecutive, minor or single larger adjustments to the valve opening pressure can further improve outcome in patients with NPH who undergo shunting.}},
  author       = {{Zemack, Göran and Romner, Bertil}},
  issn         = {{0148-396X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{2--1400}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Neurosurgery}},
  title        = {{Adjustable valves in normal-pressure hydrocephalus: a retrospective study of 218 patients.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1227/01.neu.0000316272.28209.af}},
  doi          = {{10.1227/01.neu.0000316272.28209.af}},
  volume       = {{62 Suppl 2}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}