Effect of Continual Decompression Using Holter Valve on Weights of Cerebral Hemispheres in Children with Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida Cystica

Abstract

In children with congenital hydrocephalus associated with the Arnold-Chiari deformity, the weight of the cerebral hemispheres appears to be normal at birth. In untreated cases dying before the age of 6 months, there is a suppression of hemisphere growth by weight. In the untreated cases that survive for more than 18 months the hemisphere weight again approaches the normal. In children treated by prolonged ventricular drainage the brain weight was in all instances between the normal 10th and 90th percentile for the age of the child.