Patient's question:
Hello doctor, my son is 12 years old. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus at the age of 1. Does hydrocephalus affect children? Will there be sequelae?Doctor's answer:
The treatment of hydrocephalus can be divided into conservative treatment and surgical treatment. Conservative treatment should always maintain an elevated head position, restrict fluid intake, and take diuretics, which are not very effective. There are many methods for surgical treatment. Currently, ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery is the most commonly used method in China. Through surgery, one end of a silicone tube is inserted into the lateral ventricle, and the other end is inserted into the abdominal cavity. The middle part is buried under the skin and connected to a reflux pump. The cerebrospinal fluid from the high-pressure ventricle flows into the abdominal cavity. It relies on the absorption function of the peritoneum to reabsorb and alleviate ventricular pressure, allowing brain cells to grow and develop. Brain tissue continues to develop rapidly after birth. When hydrocephalus in children is detected, surgery should be performed as soon as possible. After surgery, patients' motor and intellectual functions are expected to reach normal levels.