What is Hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus comes from Greek words “hydro,” meaning “water,” and “cephalus,” meaning “head. Hydrocephalus is a chronic, neurological condition caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the cavities (ventricles) of the brain.

Hydrocephalus happens when there is an imbalance between the amount of CSF produced and the rate at which it is absorbed. As the CSF builds up, it causes the ventricles to enlarge, putting increased pressure on the brain.

Who can Develop Hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus can develop at any age, affecting newborns and children to young, middle-aged, and older adults.

How is Hydrocephalus Treated? 

There is currently no known way to prevent or cure hydrocephalus and the only form of treatment requires brain surgery. The most common form of treatment is a medical device called a shunt. This is a flexible tube that diverts the flow of CSF to another part of the body, most often the abdominal cavity or heart, where it can be absorbed.

A second treatment option for hydrocephalus is a surgical procedure called endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).

This procedure involves creating a small opening in the ventricular system to drain excess fluid. ETV can treat hydrocephalus without the need for a shunt by providing a natural internal pathway for CSF to flow and be reabsorbed.

A third hydrocephalus treatment option combines ETV with a surgical procedure known as choroid plexus cauterization, or CPC.

The procedure reduces the choroid plexus—the tissue that produces CSF in two of the four ventricles inside the brain. This combination decreases the amount of fluid produced and may also reduce the strength of pulses that can cause the ventricles to enlarge, helping to relieve pressure on the brain.