Patient's question:
The surgery was performed at Tian Tan Hospital on September 14th. Now, eating is going well, and bowel and bladder functions are normal. However, there is still some accumulation of fluid.Doctor's answer:
Analysis of the Condition: Surgical treatment can be considered for progressive hydrocephalus with significant cranial enlargement and cerebral cortex thickness less than 1 cm. The surgery can be categorized into the following types:A: Surgery to reduce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) secretion: For example, cauterization after choroid plexus resection, which is now rarely used.
B: Surgery to relieve ventricular obstruction: Such as aqueductoplasty or dilation, foramen magnum trephination, and resection of intracranial space-occupying lesions.
C: CSF shunt surgery: The goal is to establish a CSF circulation pathway and alleviate CSF accumulation, applicable to both communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus. Common shunt procedures include intracranial shunts and extracranial shunts. Intracranial shunts include ventriculocisterna magna drainage and third ventriculostomy. Extracranial shunts include ventriculocardiac shunts, ventriculoperitoneal shunts, and shunts to the lateral ventricle, superior sagittal sinus, cardiac atrium, or external jugular vein. Note that there is a risk of infection.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment of Hydrocephalus: In TCM, the formation of hydrocephalus is often attributed to congenital deficiency, qi and blood deficiency, or external pathogens obstructing meridians, leading to water-dampness stagnation. Additionally, head trauma with blood stasis can also cause this condition. The disease locus is in the brain marrow, involving meridians, zang-fu organs, and is classified as a syndrome of root deficiency and superficial excess. Spleen and kidney deficiency is the root cause, while phlegm and blood stasis obstructing meridians and internal water-dampness stagnation are the superficial manifestations. Therefore, clinical treatment should be based on the balance between root and superficial issues, with acute treatment focusing on addressing superficial manifestations and eliminating water-dampness, while chronic treatment focuses on warming and tonifying the spleen and kidneys. Specific subtypes and treatment methods are omitted.
Other treatments include topical applications such as Fengxi Powder and modified Tianling Powder applied to the cranial defect site, as well as acupoint topical applications. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy, massage therapy, and other methods are also used. While Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and topical applications may have some efficacy in treating hydrocephalus, most reports are scattered and lack depth and breadth, with treatment effects not yet reaching a breakthrough level.
Advice: It is recommended to undergo medical examination and follow the prescribed medication to achieve early recovery.