Congenital hydrocephalus case study: pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis

Abstract

A five-month-old female entire Chihuahua was referred to the neurology-neurosurgery service at Dick White Referrals for investigation of acute onset of fly catching episodes, left-sided head tilt and circling. General physical examination revealed presence of a large fontanelle, a dome-shaped head and papilloedema. On neurological evaluation, obtunded mental status, vestibular ataxia, bilaterally reduced menace response, spontaneous ventrolateral strabismus and increased segmental spinal cord reflexes were observed. The neuroanatomical localisation was consistent with a multifocal intracranial lesion. The suspected diagnosis based on signalment and clinical findings was congenital hydrocephalus; other differential diagnoses included various anomalous diseases, inflammatory/infectious and metabolic disorders.Haematology and serum biochemistry were within normal limits. Magnetic resonance (MR; Hitachi Aperto open magnet 0.4T) of the brain was performed. T1-weighted, T2-weighted and fluidattenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images were acquired in transverse, dorsal and sagittal planes. The images revealed severe

Complications associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts in dogs and cats with idiopathic hydrocephalus: A systematic review

“…In order to sum up the general complications that occur in dogs and cats after placing a VPS and to determine if a significant difference in complications evolves in dogs and cats, these species are described separately. In 2 dogs and 2 cats, the shunt type and valve were not specified, leaving 57 dogs and 11 cats for statistical analysis …”