Cite

Copy

Tap on and choose 'Add to Home Screen' to create a shortcut app

Tap on and choose 'Add to Home Screen/Install App' to create a shortcut app

Slit Ventricle Syndrome in Children Homepage

This page was last updated on May 9th, 2017

 

Author

Greg Olavarria, M.D.

Editor

Shlomi Constantini, M.D.

Editor in Chief

Rick Abbott, M.D.

Introduction

Slit ventricle syndrome includes a variety of clinical entities.  Slit or small ventricles in the child with a shunt can be associated with high, low, or normal ICP and can be symptomatic or asymptomatic.  Neurosurgeons treating children with shunts should be cognizant of each situation, its presentation, diagnostic investigation, and management strategies.

Key Points

  • Scans can be misleading: Beware of imaging evaluations that report “stable ventricular size” in the symptomatic child, as a shunt malfunction may still be present.
  • ICP monitoring helpful: ICP monitoring can help differentiate among the various entities that make up slit ventricle syndrome
  • One approach not appropriate for all patients: The management of headaches in patients with shunts depends on the patient’s presentation, how the presentation correlates with imaging studies, the etiology for the patient’s hydrocephalus, and how the patient has responded to previous interventions.
  • Elevated ICP requires removal of volume or more space: Elevated ICP may require a shunt revision, addition of another (lumboperitoneal or cisterna magna) type of shunt, or a cranial expansion procedure.
  • Low ICP requires volume: Low ICP may require hydration, medication, or addition of anti-siphon devices.
  • ETV can replace shunts: Some shunts can be removed after ETV.

Your donations keep us going

The ISPN Guide is free to use, but we rely on donations to fund our ongoing work and to maintain more than a thousand pages of information created to disseminate the most up-to-date knowledge in the field of paediatric neurosurgery.

By making a donation to The ISPN Guide you are also indirectly helping the many thousands of children around the world whose treatment depends on well-informed surgeons.

Please consider making a donation today.

Use the app

The ISPN Guide can be used as a standalone app, both on mobile devices and desktop computers. It’s quick and easy to use.

Fully featured

Free registration grants you full access to The Guide and host of featured designed to help further your own education.

Stay updated

The ISPN Guide continues to expand both in breadth and depth. Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date with our progress.