Best Hydrocephalus Doctors in Mumbai

Types/Stages of Hydrocephalus

The types or stages of Hydrocephalus are determined based on their severity and underlying causes. They include:

• Communicating hydrocephalus: This occurs when there’s a blockage in the CSF circulation, but the fluid can still flow through the brain.

• Non-communicating hydrocephalus: This type occurs when there’s a blockage in the CSF circulation, preventing the fluid from flowing through the brain.

• Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH): This type is characterised by an accumulation of CSF in the brain without any increase in intracranial pressure.

• Post-shunt hydrocephalus: This type occurs after a shunt procedure where the CSF is diverted from the brain to another part of the body.

Symptoms of Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus can manifest as varied symptoms, depending on its severity and type. They include:

• Increased intracranial pressure, causing headaches, nausea, and vomiting

• Brain damage resulting in cognitive impairment, memory loss, and personality changes

• Seizures arising from increased intracranial pressure or brain damage

• Vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision, or loss of vision.

Tests to Diagnose Hydrocephalus

The diagnosis of Hydrocephalus involves several tests including:

• MRI Scan: This provides detailed images of the brain and can show the presence of excess CSF.

• CT Scan: This is a quick and painless test that can confirm the presence of hydrocephalus.

• Lumbar puncture: This allows doctors to analyse the CSF and measure its pressure.

• Intracranial pressure monitoring: This test measures the pressure inside the skull.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Hydrocephalus at Apollo Hospitals in Mumbai

Hydrocephalus treatment usually involves surgery that focuses on reducing the intracranial pressure. Some of them include:

• Shunting procedures: A shunt, a partially implanted tube, is used to drain CSF from the brain to another part of the body where it can be absorbed.

• Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV): Creating a hole in the bottom of one of the ventricles or spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid in the brain to allow fluid to escape.

• Ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS): A shunt is placed between the ventricles of the brain and the peritoneal cavity to drain CSF.

Apollo Hospitals in Mumbai have some of the best doctors for hydrocephaly treatment and doctors for excessive cerebral fluid, making it a top choice for treatment in India.