Shortfalls in pediatric hydrocephalus clinical outcome analysis

Abstract

Over the past 15 years, disappointingly the number of printed child hydrocephalus papers appeared to have only plateaued. Strikingly, only a very small number of these papers were directed toward randomized control studies, the sine qua non of high-grade clinical evidence. Moreover, very few papers make reference to cost analysis or economics in the treatment of hydrocephalus - an issue coming increasingly before the nation at this point.

Headache and Shunt-Related Impact on Activities of Daily Life in Patients Growing Up with a Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

“…2 Although the impact of morbidity related to shunt infection and dysfunction has been studied extensively, data on psychosocial outcome and quality of life are limited. 3,4 However, factors that potentially exert a detrimental longterm influence on quality of life have been identified in VPS patients. For instance, even in the absence of overt VPS-related problems, headache has a higher incidence in patients with VPS compared with the normal population.…”