Handbook of Hydrocephalus

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Hydrocephalus is a condition in which fluid gets collected in the brain. Incidence of mention of hydrocephalus in medical literature can be dated back to 500 AD in Egypt. Hydrocephalus is identified by an unusual accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. This leads to a rise in the intracranial compression inside the skull which causes progressive growth of the head, convulsion, tunnel vision and mental impairment. The clinical manifestations of hydrocephalus range in accordance with age of onset and the chronicity of underlying course of the disease. Acute dilatation of the ventricular system shows characteristics of increased intracranial pressure whereas chronic dilatation has a more subtle onset manifested by Adams triad. Its treatment is usually surgical by creating several types of cerebral shunts. The role of endoscopic treatment has recently materialized in the management of hydrocephalus.