Brain Disorders & Therapy

Complications of the Hydrocephalus Brain

Rashid Maaral^* Department of Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
^*Correspondence: Rashid Maaral, Department of Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Email:

Received: 02-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. BDT-23-20697; Editor assigned: 06-Jan-2023, Pre QC No. BDT-23-20697(PQ); Reviewed: 20-Jan-2023, QC No. BDT-23-20697; Revised: 27-Jan-2023, Manuscript No. BDT-23-20697(R); Published: 03-Feb-2023, DOI: 10.35248/2168-975X.23.12.197

Description

Hydrocephalus is a disorder defined by excessive fluid build-up in fluid-containing cavities of the brain, resulting in developmental, physical, and intellectual deficits. The illness develops when there is an imbalance between how much Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF) is produced and how much is absorbed into the bloodstream. Normally, cerebrospinal fluid flows through the ventricles and bathes the brain and spinal column. Yet, excessive cerebrospinal fluid pressure associated with hydrocephalus can damage brain tissues and cause a variety of brain function abnormalities.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is a rare and poorly understood illness that primarily affects adults over 60. It can occur as a result of an injury or a stroke, but in most cases, the reason is unknown. The main signs of NPH include mobility issues, cognition, and urine incontinence. NPH, however, can be difficult to identify because the symptoms appear gradually and are similar to those of other, more frequent illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease. Hydrocephalus is caused by a variety of factors, including head or brain injury, brain infection such as meningitis, medical diseases that impact brain function such as hemorrhage, tumour, migraine, and brain surgery, among several others.

Hydrocephalus symptoms include chronic headache, nausea, difficulty focusing the eyes, difficulties walking or changes in gait, limb weakness, exhaustion, and psychological and behavioral abnormalities including such impatience and convulsions. The most common therapy for hydrocephalus is surgery to place tubes called shunts or to repair disorders that impede the channel for free flow of CSF. A tiny device known as a shunt is inserted to redirect the extra CSF to another part of the body. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy can also be performed to create a new route for discharging excessive CSF.

In most situations, hydrocephalus progresses, which means that if it is not addressed, issues such as intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities might arise. It is also potentially fatal. When treated properly, less severe instances may have few, if any, major sequelae. Permanent brain damage can occur in babies being born with hydrocephalus (congenital idiopathic intracranial hypertension), resulting in a variety of long-term complications such as learning disabilities, speech problems, memory problems, short attention span, problems with organizational skills, and impaired vision including such squinting and loss of vision. The most common indications and symptoms of hydrocephalus include headaches, sluggishness, lack of coordination or balance, loss of bladder control or a frequent urge to urinate, vision issues, and deterioration in memory, focus, and other thinking skills, which can compromise job performance. Many people live without problems for decades, but things can change rapidly. Shunt recipients must have frequent medical exams. Shunts have the potential to break, fail, or get infected. If this occurs, additional brain surgery will be necessary.

Potential consequences of Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) surgery include the whole closing, the brain not being able to absorb the CSF that is now flowing through it, infection though this is more common than that after implant operation, and mild bleeding throughout the brain. Several individuals with hydrocephalus can lead regular lives with surgery and monitoring. The condition and complications of surgery, on the other hand, can vary greatly from one individual to another.