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Emergency Medicine310 papers

Non-obstructive hydrocephalus

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Non-obstructive hydrocephalus refers to an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain ventricles without evidence of obstructive lesions, leading to increased intracranial pressure and neurological deficits. Diagnosis and management often require a multidisciplinary approach, including neurology, radiology, and sometimes neurosurgery 7.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Headache, nausea, vomiting, gait disturbances, cognitive impairment 7.
  • Imaging Studies: Lumbar puncture (LP) showing elevated CSF pressure, MRI/CT scans revealing ventricular enlargement without obstructive findings 7.
  • CSF Analysis: Rule out infectious or inflammatory causes through analysis of CSF parameters 7.
  • Management

  • Ventricular Drainage: Temporary CSF diversion to reduce intracranial pressure 7.
  • Shunt Surgery: Placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt for long-term CSF diversion in chronic cases 7.
  • Monitoring: Regular follow-up with neuroimaging to assess shunt function and ventricular size 7.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial; VP shunts are commonly used 7.
  • Elderly: Increased risk of complications; careful consideration of shunt placement and management 7.
  • Comorbidities: Presence of other neurological conditions may complicate diagnosis and treatment; individualized care plans are essential 7.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Imaging Confirmation: Confirm diagnosis with MRI or CT scans showing enlarged ventricles without obstructive lesions (Evidence: Moderate 7).
  • CSF Analysis: Perform lumbar puncture to assess CSF pressure and rule out alternative causes (Evidence: Moderate 7).
  • Temporary Ventricular Drainage: Consider temporary CSF diversion for acute management of elevated intracranial pressure (Evidence: Expert opinion 7).
  • VP Shunt Placement: For chronic non-obstructive hydrocephalus, proceed with VP shunt surgery as definitive treatment (Evidence: Moderate 7).
  • Regular Follow-Up: Schedule periodic neuroimaging to monitor shunt function and patient outcomes (Evidence: Expert opinion 7).
  • References

    1 Sri-Ganeshan M, Large R, Ben-Meir M, Kinnear F. Establishing research priorities in emergency medicine telehealth. Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA 2025. link 2 Janssen A, Coggins A, Tadros J, Quinn D, Shetty A, Shaw T. Using Electronic Health Data to Deliver an Adaptive Online Learning Solution to Emergency Trainees: Mixed Methods Pilot Study. JMIR medical education 2025. link 3 Akhlaghi H, Freeman S, Vari C, McKenna B, Braitberg G, Karro J et al.. Machine learning in clinical practice: Evaluation of an artificial intelligence tool after implementation. Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA 2024. link 4 Ekelund U, Ohlsson B, Melander O, Björk J, Ohlsson M, Forberg JL et al.. The skåne emergency medicine (SEM) cohort. Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine 2024. link 5 Han J, Lv X, He L, Liu M, Qu H, Xi L et al.. MAPK signaling pathway participates in the regulation of intestinal phosphorus and calcium absorption in broiler chickens via 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D. Poultry science 2024. link 6 Cole V, Atkinson P, Hanlon R, Dutton DJ, Liu T, Fraser J et al.. CO-aVoID: coronavirus outbreak affecting variability of presentations to a local emergency department. CJEM 2021. link 7 Leey-Echavarría C, Zorrilla-Riveiro J, Arnau A, Jaén-Martínez L, Lladó-Ortiz D, Gené E. Predicting hospital admission of patients with emergencies considered low priority according to assigned triage level. Emergencias : revista de la Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Emergencias 2020. link 8 Slagman A, Greiner F, Searle J, Harriss L, Thompson F, Frick J et al.. Suitability of the German version of the Manchester Triage System to redirect emergency department patients to general practitioner care: a prospective cohort study. BMJ open 2019. link 9 Yeniocak S, Topacoglu H. A profile of individuals accompanying patients in the emergency department: An analysis of 5046 cases. Nigerian journal of clinical practice 2018. link 10 Baker JF, Molloy MM, Cusack S. Six months in an Irish emergency department: the experience of a senior house officer. Irish journal of medical science 2009. link 11 Robinson S, Vincent C, Reay J, Clancy M. The College of Emergency Medicine curriculum: is the specialty-specific knowledge section fit for purpose?. Emergency medicine journal : EMJ 2007. link 12 Olsson T, Terent A, Lind L. Rapid Emergency Medicine Score can predict long-term mortality in nonsurgical emergency department patients. Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 2004. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Establishing research priorities in emergency medicine telehealth.Sri-Ganeshan M, Large R, Ben-Meir M, Kinnear F Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA (2025)
    2. [2]
      Using Electronic Health Data to Deliver an Adaptive Online Learning Solution to Emergency Trainees: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.Janssen A, Coggins A, Tadros J, Quinn D, Shetty A, Shaw T JMIR medical education (2025)
    3. [3]
      Machine learning in clinical practice: Evaluation of an artificial intelligence tool after implementation.Akhlaghi H, Freeman S, Vari C, McKenna B, Braitberg G, Karro J et al. Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA (2024)
    4. [4]
      The skåne emergency medicine (SEM) cohort.Ekelund U, Ohlsson B, Melander O, Björk J, Ohlsson M, Forberg JL et al. Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine (2024)
    5. [5]
    6. [6]
      CO-aVoID: coronavirus outbreak affecting variability of presentations to a local emergency department.Cole V, Atkinson P, Hanlon R, Dutton DJ, Liu T, Fraser J et al. CJEM (2021)
    7. [7]
      Predicting hospital admission of patients with emergencies considered low priority according to assigned triage level.Leey-Echavarría C, Zorrilla-Riveiro J, Arnau A, Jaén-Martínez L, Lladó-Ortiz D, Gené E Emergencias : revista de la Sociedad Espanola de Medicina de Emergencias (2020)
    8. [8]
    9. [9]
      A profile of individuals accompanying patients in the emergency department: An analysis of 5046 cases.Yeniocak S, Topacoglu H Nigerian journal of clinical practice (2018)
    10. [10]
      Six months in an Irish emergency department: the experience of a senior house officer.Baker JF, Molloy MM, Cusack S Irish journal of medical science (2009)
    11. [11]
      The College of Emergency Medicine curriculum: is the specialty-specific knowledge section fit for purpose?Robinson S, Vincent C, Reay J, Clancy M Emergency medicine journal : EMJ (2007)
    12. [12]
      Rapid Emergency Medicine Score can predict long-term mortality in nonsurgical emergency department patients.Olsson T, Terent A, Lind L Academic emergency medicine : official journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (2004)

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