Object: The aim of this study was to investigate whether delayed endoscopic treatment of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) can prevent consecutive communicating hydrocephalus.
Methods: A retrospective series of 9 patients with IVH caused by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) who were treated with external ventricular drainage (EVD) or endoscopic IVH removal and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was studied in our institute. Five of these patients who had previously been treated a year before in our institute with the installation of a flexible endoscope, were treated with EVD alone on admission. Of the other patients, three received endoscopic removal of IVH and ETV and, after a one week, EVD placement, and the final patient underwent endoscopic IVH removal and ETV one day after onset.
Results: Three of the patients treated with EVD alone were fitted with the EVD for 8, 11 and 16 days, and 2 patients were fitted with the EVD until they died. No patients treated with EVD alone required shunt placement. In contrast, of the 4 patients treated endoscopically, EVD was placed totally for 0, 6, 9, and 22 days for each patient, among whom 2 patients required shunt placement.
Conclusions: Delayed endoscopic IVH removal and ETV might not prevent consecutive communicating hydrocephalus if IVH removal was insufficient.