HomeAnswersRadiologyhydrocephalusDoes hydrocephalus always require surgery?

Is it advisable for my 84-year-old mother to undergo surgery for hydrocephalus?

Share

The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At March 15, 2021
Reviewed AtMarch 15, 2021

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

This is regarding my mother, and she is 84 years old. She was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus. We have been advised to get surgery done to fix a ventricular catheter into the cerebral ventricles to bypass the flow obstruction or malfunctioning arachnoid granulations and drain the excess fluid into other body cavities. But due to her age, I would like to have a second opinion based on the attached (MRI) before deciding our next step.

She has the following symptoms:

Headaches, severe vomiting, poor balance, loss of coordination and trouble walking, urinary incontinence, personality changes, mental impairment, excessive sleepiness, and eating disorder.

Regards.

Answered by Dr. Varun Chaudhry

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Thanks for your request.

Yes, from the attached report (attachment removed to protect the patient's identity), there appears to be hydrocephalus and dilated ventricles. There are additional age-related changes. There is also an old infarct in the left occipital region.

The Probable causes

Causes are usually many and arachnoid granulations, previous infections can cause this. Sometimes it can be idiopathic when no cause is seen.

Investigations to be done

Please consult a neurosurgeon.

Probable diagnosis

Hydrocephalus.

Treatment plan

Please consult a neurosurgeon as this is likely to be the cause of her symptoms.

Preventive measures

Take care as she may be prone to recurrent falls with this condition.

Regarding follow up

Feel free to contact me again. Thanks.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

default Img
Dr. Varun Chaudhry

Radiodiagnosis

Community Banner Mobile
By subscribing, I agree to iCliniq's Terms & Privacy Policy.

Ask your health query to a doctor online

Radiology

*guaranteed answer within 4 hours

Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. iCliniq privacy policy