RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Create an anatomical model which simulates the real condition of a hydrocephalus and which can be used as a tool in the training of neurosurgeons in neuroendoscopy techniques and anatomical structure study. METHODS: Case-control type study, with an experimental group consisting of ten brains, in which the injection of distilled water was performed; and the control group consisting of three brains with saline solution. Inclusion criteria were brains with no history of contagious diseases or traumatic injury. RESULTS: t student test showed that the relation between frontal horn and internal frontal diameter (FH/ID), with an average of 13 % before the experiment, had a significant difference (t = -3.47, df = 9, p < 0.01) from the relation after the subsequent experiment with an average of 20 %. The Evan's index also showed a significant difference (t = -3.57, df = 9, p < 0.01) with an initial and final average of 12 % and 19 %, respectively. Friedman test showed significant difference of the size of the temporal horn before and after the experiment (f = 8.1, df = 1, p < 0.01), indicating that there was significant increase of the temporal horn. CONCLUSION: The adequate use of the anomalous chemical-physical characteristics of the water molecule may provide a good mechanism to expand the ventricular cavity, in order to create an experimental model of hydrocephalus. The endoscope may be introduced by the usual ways, allowing anatomical observation and simulation of the same tactile sensitivity that one would find during the actual procedure.
