Clinical characteristics of children using ventricular derivations for hidrocephalus treatment

Abstract

This is a descriptive, quantitative study, which aimed to identify clinical characteristics of children in use of ventricular derivations for hydrocephalus treatment. It was developed in a Pediatric Neurosurgery internment unit of a public hospital. The Sample consisted of 60 interned patients from June to December, 2006. The results evidenced age varying from 1 day to13 years, without difference between sex, 58.3% of the interned patients were younger than one year of age, with main diagnosis of hydrocephalus. The main cause of subsequent internments is related to the dysfunction of the the peritoneal ventricular derivation. The children evolved to discharge from hospital with time of internment varying from 3 the 240 days. The ventricular derivations are important methods to increase the survival of a child with hydrocephalus. However, exempt care concerning manipulation of the devices must be well guided by the multi-professional team to the families, aiming to reduce the long periods of new internments.