Weill Cornell Neurological Surgery

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy for Hydrocephalus

Watch an archived video of a live webcast event focused on minimally invasive endoscopic intraventricular neurosurgery for hydrocephalus. Dr. Mark Souweidane explains the procedure, and introduces a young patient who had it performed. The patient's mother lends a parent's perspective on neurosurgery on a child.
Watch the video.

This procedure is used to treat obstructive (also referred to as "non-communicating") hydrocephalus, which is a swelling of the brain. The procedure is safe and short, lasting approximately 30 minutes. It's a minimally invasive surgical alternative to the older procedure, which requires a lifetime commitment to maintaining a shunt.

Using an instrument called an endoscope, a type of tube, the surgeon opens (or "fenestrates") the swelling, then removes the instrument and closes the wound. Patients can return home the following day. MRI scans of the brain are subsequently done periodically to insure that the fenestration remains open.

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