Neurosurgical burden of hydrocephalus in a tertiary care hospital in the developing world.

Abstract

Objectives: To know about the Neurosurgical burden of Hydrocephalus in a tertiary care hospital, in developing world. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Setting: Department of Neurosurgery, MTI/LRH Peshawar. Period: September 2015 to August 2016. Material & Methods: The age, gender, indication for surgery, type of surgery and mode of surgery i.e. whether as elective or emergency, was recorded on a proforma.  All patients undergoing surgery primarily for hydrocephalus due to any cause were included in the study. Patients undergoing surgery for indications other than hydrocephalus as well as patients primarily explored for other etiologies and intervened for hydrocephalus in the midst of procedure were excluded from the study. Results: During the study period a total of 2844 patients were operated and amongst them were 437 (15.34%) cases operated for hydrocephalus. Of them were 242 males and 195 females, and the male to female ratio was 1.24.  The age range was one month to 68 years and the mean age was 5±4.8 years. There were 250 new shunts and 69 revisions and 13 removal procedures, 70(2.4%) endoscopic hydrocephalus related procedures, 28 external ventricular drains and 7 lumboperitoneal shunts. 189 cases were done on elective list while 248 as emergency. Conclusion: Every 3^rd case done on emergency list and every 10^th case done on elective list was related to hydrocephalus and accounted for 16% of all the cases done in the neurosurgery.