How dangerous is external hydrocephalus?

Before talking about external hydrocephalus, it is worth talking about how the human brain is arranged. There are several cavities both inside the brain itself, and between the brain and the membranes surrounding it. Of course, they are not empty, but under normal conditions they are filled with a special substance produced by some brain cells, a cerebrospinal fluid. External hydrocephalus arises precisely because of a disruption in the circulation of this fluid: it can accumulate in excessive amounts in the ventricles and adjacent areas of the brain, thereby increasing intracranial pressure. The situation is aggravated by the fact that the bones of the skull of an adult person are not able to change their shape, which increases this pressure even more. In children whose bones have not yet become firm and the cranial sutures have not grown, external hydrocephalus is usually outwardly visible due to the increase in the volume of the skull.

Normally, the cerebrospinal fluid is constantly secreted and re-absorbed, thereby maintaining the volume at the required level. Circulation can be violated for various reasons. For example, in those people who have had meningitis, there is often a decrease in the ability of brain cells to suck in this fluid, and in tumors, its production is excessively increased.

Moderate external hydrocephalus is accompanied by a number of symptoms associated with impaired brain function: rapid fatigue, depression, nausea, vomiting. For children, this disease is especially dangerous because of the squeezing of the brain tissue, their supply of nutrients and oxygen is disturbed, which seriously affects the development of not only the brain, but also the rest of the body. In a child, external hydrocephalus, which occurs without the control of doctors, can cause his mental underdevelopment in the future.

At the slightest suspicion of this disease, the patient is subjected to a number of diverse studies that include the study of human nerve functions (study his reflexes, etc.), magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonic diagnostics. In addition, special biochemical tests are assigned, including the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, to determine its composition. Such appointments are usually made by a neurologist or neurosurgeon.

When it is accurately known that the patient is diagnosed with "external hydrocephalus," he is prescribed treatment, which can be both surgical and therapeutic (medicamental). The type of therapy is chosen based on the established cause of the disease. Drug treatment is usually the use of drugs that reduce intracranial pressure. Surgical treatment is used in those cases when there is no effect from therapeutic, or moderate external hydrocephalus causes some organic changes in the brain. In this case, various neoplasms can be removed or drainages can be established to drain excess fluid from the brain cavities.