RESUMO
Ventricular shunts were evaluated by a shuntographic technique using metrizamide for the contrast material and delayed spot films and computed tomography (CT) to evaluate shunt function. Thirty hydrocephalic patients were studied who had clinical presentations of shunt malfunction. Fifty-two shuntograms were obtained; most demonstrated the cause of shunt malfunction. No contrast-related complications resulted from the procedure. Diagnostic accuracy was greatly improved by this method, since both anatomic and functional evaluations could be performed. In patients with normal studies, unnecessary surgery was eliminated; in abnormal shuntograms, the duration of surgery and the likelihood of complications were reduced because the surgeons knew the exact anatomic derangements to be corrected.
Assuntos
Derivações do Líquido Cefalorraquidiano , Hidrocefalia/diagnóstico por imagem , Metrizamida , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Falha de Equipamento , Humanos , Hidrocefalia/cirurgia , Lactente , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios XRESUMO
The thin needles that are used for myelography or biopsy are easily deflected in the body. We describe a simple method used to guide the tip of these needles to the target area using needle-hub rotation. This procedure was successfully used in more than 260 direct C1-C2 punctures for cervical myelography.
