Hydrocephalus

The human brain and spine are oovered in a clear fluid called Cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) which provides cushion to the brain and spine from external forces. Due to some neurological problem this fluid starts accumulating inside the ventricles and increases the size of the ventricles which puts excess pressure on the brain. This condition is called Hydrocephalus. It can happen at any age but is more common in infants and older people.

The signs of hydrocephalus include unusually large head with rapid increase in the size of the head. Hydrocephalus may result in vomiting, sleepiness, irritability, poor feeding, seizures and poor growth. Hydrocephalus is caused due to the imbalance between the production of CSF and its absorption by the blood stream. The most common reason for this imbalance is some kind of obstruction in the flow of the CSF from one ventricle to another. In infants this condition might be present at the time of birth.

Diagnosis & Treatment

If you experience any of the signs and symptoms as mentioned above then you should immediately see a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon will do a thorough physical and neurological examination followed by investigations like Ultrasound of the Brain, CT Scan or MRI Scan. Of these tests, MRI would give the maximum information and is considered as conclusive in the diagnosis of Hydrocephalus.

The most common surgical treatment for hydrocephalus is Shunt surgery. In this surgery a plastic tubing is inserted in the brain with one end of the tube placed inside the ventricle and the other end is placed inside the abdomen. The tubing is inserted in such a manner it travels from the brain to the abdomen under your skin. This tube keeps draining the excess CSF from the brain into the abdomen where it gets absorbed by the body.

Another surgery which is sometimes done for the treatment of Hydrocephalus is Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy but is not very common. In this surgery the surgeon will make a hole at the bottom of one of the ventricles to drain out the excess CSF.

Best Doctors and Cost

Dr Singh is one of the best trained and highly qualified neurosurgeon for doing Surgery for the treatment of Hydrocephalus at Amritum Hospital. Shunt surgery is the cheapest of all the brain and spine surgeries and costs Rs. 70,000 - 1,20,000 with hospital stay of 3-5 days. The Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy surgery would cost Rs. 1,20,000 - 1,80,000 with similar hospital stay. Amritum Hospital has the latest microscopes and highly advanced surgical instruments to perform brain and spine surgeries with high level of precision.

If you have an individual health insurance policy then this surgery is covered after a period of 2 years from the date of inception of the policy. However if you are a beneficiary of company given policy then the surgery is covered from day one. Always go through the terms of your health insurance policy like room rent capping and co-payment to avoid any kind of financial shocks later on.

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