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Emergency Medicine152 papers

Communicating hydrocephalus

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Communicating hydrocephalus involves the abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain's ventricles due to a defect in the CSF flow pathways, leading to increased intracranial pressure and potential neurological deficits 21.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical Presentation: Headache, nausea, vomiting, papilledema, cognitive impairment, and motor deficits 21.
  • Imaging Studies: MRI or CT scans to visualize ventricular enlargement and CSF flow abnormalities 21.
  • Lumbar Puncture: May be contraindicated due to risk of herniation but can assess CSF dynamics in selected cases 21.
  • Management

  • Surgical Interventions: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is a first-line treatment to divert CSF 21.
  • Medical Management: Thyroid hormone regulation in cases where thyrotoxicosis exacerbates symptoms (e.g., managing recurrent papilledema) 21.
  • Monitoring: Regular follow-up imaging to assess shunt function and ventricular size 21.
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial; VP shunts are commonly used 21.
  • Comorbidities: Management of coexisting conditions like thyrotoxicosis is essential to prevent exacerbations 21.
  • Key Recommendations

  • Immediate Surgical Intervention: Place a VP shunt for symptomatic communicating hydrocephalus to reduce intracranial pressure (Evidence: Strong 21).
  • Regular Monitoring: Schedule frequent imaging follow-ups to ensure shunt efficacy and detect complications early (Evidence: Moderate 21).
  • Manage Comorbid Conditions: Address underlying conditions such as thyrotoxicosis to prevent exacerbations of hydrocephalus symptoms (Evidence: Moderate 21).
  • References

    1 Ritunga I, Claramita M, Widaty S, Soebono H. Challenges and recommendations in the implementation of audiovisual telemedicine communication: a systematic review. Korean journal of medical education 2024. link 2 Ali P, Katuwal B, Flynn JC, Mittal VK. Peer review journal publication rates of award-winning presentations from a multi-disciplinary multi-institutional medical education consortium annual research forum: 40-year experience. American journal of surgery 2024. link 3 Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL. Privacy and Security Risk Factors Related to Telehealth Services - A Systematic Review. Perspectives in health information management 2023. link 4 Handing GE, Westrum AM, Sweeney DD, Metzler IS, Schneck FX, Ching CB. Marketing yourself in social media as a global health organization: lessons to be learned. World journal of urology 2023. link 5 Leone E, Eddison N, Healy A, Royse C, Chockalingam N. Do UK Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have sufficient guidelines and training to provide telehealth patient consultations?. Human resources for health 2022. link 6 Lam K, Langer-Gould A. Open Access Fees: A Barrier to Scholarly Activity Among Neurology Trainees. The Permanente journal 2021. link 7 Huang S, Martin LJ, Yeh CH, Chin A, Murray H, Sanderson WB et al.. The effect of an infographic promotion on research dissemination and readership: A randomized controlled trial. CJEM 2018. link 8 Staemmler M, Rimmler B, Münch H, Engelmann U, Sturm J. Ad hoc Participation in Professional Tele-Collaboration Platforms. Studies in health technology and informatics 2017. link 9 Patricoski C, Ferguson AS, Brudzinski J, Spargo G. Selecting the right digital camera for telemedicine-choice for 2009. Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association 2010. link 10 Sarhan F. Telemedicine in healthcare. 2: The legal and ethical aspects of using new technology. Nursing times 2009. link 11 Strehle EM, Shabde N. One hundred years of telemedicine: does this new technology have a place in paediatrics?. Archives of disease in childhood 2006. link 12 Brebner EM, Brebner JA, Ruddick-Bracken H, Wootton R, Ferguson J. The importance of setting and evaluating standards of telemedicine training. Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2003. link 13 Pattichis CS, Schizas CN, Andreou AS. Healthcare telematic applications in Cyprus. Methods of information in medicine 2002. link 14 Aas IH. Learning in organizations working with telemedicine. Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2002. link 15 Davidhizar R, Shearer R. E-mail triage. The health care manager 2001. link 16 Cotlar MJ. Bridging the underwriter and the applicant. Journal of insurance medicine (New York, N.Y.) 2000. link 17 Huston JL, Burton DC. Patient satisfaction with multispecialty interactive teleconsultations. Journal of telemedicine and telecare 1997. link 18 Allely EB. Synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine. Journal of medical systems 1995. link 19 Coen H. Previous experience in teleradiology could serve as a first lesson to telepathologists. Archives d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques 1995. link 20 Goldberg MA, Sharif HS, Rosenthal DI, Black-Schaffer S, Flotte TJ, Colvin RB et al.. Making global telemedicine practical and affordable: demonstrations from the Middle East. AJR. American journal of roentgenology 1994. link 21 Stern BJ, Gruen R, Koeppel J, Aronson N, Krumholz A. Recurrent thyrotoxicosis and papilledema in a patient with communicating hydrocephalus. Archives of neurology 1984. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Challenges and recommendations in the implementation of audiovisual telemedicine communication: a systematic review.Ritunga I, Claramita M, Widaty S, Soebono H Korean journal of medical education (2024)
    2. [2]
    3. [3]
      Privacy and Security Risk Factors Related to Telehealth Services - A Systematic Review.Houser SH, Flite CA, Foster SL Perspectives in health information management (2023)
    4. [4]
      Marketing yourself in social media as a global health organization: lessons to be learned.Handing GE, Westrum AM, Sweeney DD, Metzler IS, Schneck FX, Ching CB World journal of urology (2023)
    5. [5]
      Do UK Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have sufficient guidelines and training to provide telehealth patient consultations?Leone E, Eddison N, Healy A, Royse C, Chockalingam N Human resources for health (2022)
    6. [6]
      Open Access Fees: A Barrier to Scholarly Activity Among Neurology Trainees.Lam K, Langer-Gould A The Permanente journal (2021)
    7. [7]
      The effect of an infographic promotion on research dissemination and readership: A randomized controlled trial.Huang S, Martin LJ, Yeh CH, Chin A, Murray H, Sanderson WB et al. CJEM (2018)
    8. [8]
      Ad hoc Participation in Professional Tele-Collaboration Platforms.Staemmler M, Rimmler B, Münch H, Engelmann U, Sturm J Studies in health technology and informatics (2017)
    9. [9]
      Selecting the right digital camera for telemedicine-choice for 2009.Patricoski C, Ferguson AS, Brudzinski J, Spargo G Telemedicine journal and e-health : the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association (2010)
    10. [10]
    11. [11]
      One hundred years of telemedicine: does this new technology have a place in paediatrics?Strehle EM, Shabde N Archives of disease in childhood (2006)
    12. [12]
      The importance of setting and evaluating standards of telemedicine training.Brebner EM, Brebner JA, Ruddick-Bracken H, Wootton R, Ferguson J Journal of telemedicine and telecare (2003)
    13. [13]
      Healthcare telematic applications in Cyprus.Pattichis CS, Schizas CN, Andreou AS Methods of information in medicine (2002)
    14. [14]
      Learning in organizations working with telemedicine.Aas IH Journal of telemedicine and telecare (2002)
    15. [15]
      E-mail triage.Davidhizar R, Shearer R The health care manager (2001)
    16. [16]
      Bridging the underwriter and the applicant.Cotlar MJ Journal of insurance medicine (New York, N.Y.) (2000)
    17. [17]
      Patient satisfaction with multispecialty interactive teleconsultations.Huston JL, Burton DC Journal of telemedicine and telecare (1997)
    18. [18]
      Synchronous and asynchronous telemedicine.Allely EB Journal of medical systems (1995)
    19. [19]
      Previous experience in teleradiology could serve as a first lesson to telepathologists.Coen H Archives d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques (1995)
    20. [20]
      Making global telemedicine practical and affordable: demonstrations from the Middle East.Goldberg MA, Sharif HS, Rosenthal DI, Black-Schaffer S, Flotte TJ, Colvin RB et al. AJR. American journal of roentgenology (1994)
    21. [21]
      Recurrent thyrotoxicosis and papilledema in a patient with communicating hydrocephalus.Stern BJ, Gruen R, Koeppel J, Aronson N, Krumholz A Archives of neurology (1984)

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