[Complications of lumboperitoneal shunts. A retrospective study of a series of 195 patients (214 procedures)]. / Complications des dérivations lombo-péritonéales. Etude rétrospective d'une série de 195 patients (214 interventions).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We report our experience with the lumboperitoneal shunt (LPS) in 195 patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to assess and compare the rate of complications and to discuss 4 indications. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between January 1983 and July 1994, 195 patients including 14 pediatric cases were treated with a LPS. Sex ratio was 1.24. The mean age at insertion was 59.5 years (from 6 months to 88 years) and the follow-up in this series was from 6 months to 12.5 years. The indications for a LPS were: chronic idiopathic hydrocephalus (115 cases), post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (37 cases), cerebrospinal fluid fistula (11 cases), post-traumatic hydrocephalus (9 cases), post-surgical hydrocephalus (8 cases), hydrocephalus of the child (6 cases), post-meningitis hydrocephalus (4 cases), benign intracranial hypertension (4 cases), post-radiotherapy hydrocephalus (1). Forty patients (20.5%) presented with at least one complication. A total of 47 complications were observed: chronic subdural effusion (8 cases), meningitis (10 cases), mechanical failures (28 cases), acquired Chiari abnormality (1 case). Mechanical complications varied with the type of shunt. CONCLUSION: Complications of LPS in adults are less frequent than is usually reported after ventricular atrial or peritoneal shunting. In adults, LPS can be used as the first valuable treatment in case of chronic communicating hydrocephalus. LPS is also valuable in the treatment of benign intracranial hypertension or recurrent CSF fistulae. Conversely, in the pediatric cases general and specific complications are frequent, so an indication for LPS must be strictly discussed.

[Familial aneurysms, multiple aneurysms and "de novo" aneurysms. Apropos of 2 cases]. / Anévrysmes familiaux, anévrysmes multiples et anévrysmes "de novo". A propos de deux observations.

The authors report the case of two sisters: each suffered from two intracranial hemorrhages caused by aneurysmal rupture at an interval of respectively 8 and 5 years. In the first case, the first subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was related to a left middle cerebral artery aneurysm and the second, 8 years later, to the rupture of one of three right aneurysms (anterior communicating, supraclinoid internal carotid and middle cerebral arteries). But the "de novo" character of the right aneurysms could not be established. In the second case, the first SAH was related to an aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery, with the left one appearing normal on the initial angiography. The second SAH, 5 years later, was related to a "de novo" left aneurysm. These two observations of familial, multiple and "de novo" intracranial aneurysms suggest a genetic basis for the pathogenesis of the arterial dysplasia. As in the literature, these hypothetical congenital factors could not be identified in both cases, but their probability justifies further investigations. If this factor exists, can we hope for a total recovery of the aneurysmal disease?

[Treatment of chronic hydrocephalus in adults by lumboperitoneal shunt. Results and indications apropos of 82 cases]. / Traitement de l'hydrocéphalie chronique de l'adulte par dérivation lombo-péritonéale. Résultats et indications à propos de 82 observations.

Patients with chronic hydrocephalus are most often aged people and in bad general condition. It seems that treatment may be more simplest possible and the less iatrogenic. Furthermore, the diagnosis of chronic hydrocephalus is not often certain, and can be generally assert after the good result of the CSF shunting. Since 1985, when hydrocephalus appears communicant, a lumboperitoneal shunt was systematically implanted in the aim to decrease the number of complications due to ventricular shunts. The operation can be performed on neuroloptanalgesia and/or local anesthesia. Post-operative orthostatic intracranial hypotension can be prevented by using valves with opening pressure varying with the position or valves with a flow depending of the opening pressure. Our clinical series includes 82 patients (51 males and 31 females), aged from 27 to 88 years (average 55 years). In 47 cases, hydrocephalus was idiopathic and in 35 cases hydrocephalus was secondary to an identified aetiology: subarachnoid or intracranial hemorrhage (20 cases), post-traumatic (11 cases), post meningitic (1 case) and post anoxic (1 case). In this last case, physiopathological mechanism was unclear. The middle delay between the first symptom and the operation was greater than 6 months for the majority of observations, but in few cases, precoce shunting was performed (between 1 to 3 months) in post S.A.H. and post traumatic hydrocephalus when C.T. Scan shows increasing ventricular size. Clinical results are evaluated after 2 months and at long term, and complications analysed. The lumbo-peritoneal shunt gives same results on the clinical symptoms, and less iatrogenic complications than ventricular shunts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Spontaneous rhinorrhea disclosing intranasal meningoencephalocele and ependymoma of the 4th ventricle]. / Rhinorrhée spontanée révélatrice d'une méningoencéphalocèle intranasale et d'un épendymome du IVe ventricule.

The authors report a case of a spontaneous rhinorrhea due to an intranasal meningoencephalocele associated with a benign, perhaps congenital, ependymoma of the floor of the fourth ventricle. The tumour was initially unknown, because clinical symptoms suggested a congenital aqueductal stenosis (macrocrania, no neurological signs, association with a congenital defect of the cranial base). This observation, which belongs to "hypertensive spontaneous rhinorrhea" suggests that the C.S.F. fistula is possible only when hydrocephalus coexists with a congenital abnormality of the cranial base. Therapeutic problems are discussed: the direct approach of the fistula alone is most often insufficient, the treatment of the hydrocephalus alone is possible, but may induce a tension pneumocephalus, the best attitude is the treatment in the same stage, of the fistula and the hydrocephalus. But, in case of chronic non communicant hydrocephalus, aqueductal tubing or ventriculocisternostomy can be insufficient and permanent internal C.F.S. derivation may be performed.

[Anterior sacral meningocele. Apropos of 11 cases]. / Méningocèle sacrée antérieure. A propos de onze cas.

The authors report 11 cases of anterior sacral meningocele, cystic mass connected with lumbar sac through a sacral bony defect: 2 children and 9 adults. Clinic presentations are analysed. Examination including, X ray, ultrasonography, scanner is discussed. The authors believe that these lesions must be treated surgically because a risk of rupture in the rectum with important meningitis exists. There is also a septic risk if an error of diagnosis ends at a puncture. The transacral approach is easy and it gives the best results.