Aim: To prove the superiority of the electromagnetic (EM) neuronavigation technique to increase the accuracy of intraventicular shunt catheter placement, and to reduce accompanying complications.
Material and methods: A total of 21 patients with hydrocephalus [age range (years): 53-84] were studied. All of them had undergone thin-slice, navigation-compatible, computed tomography (CT) preoperatively. Shunt surgery was performed under the guidance of EM neuronavigation technology. All patients underwent follow-up CT the next day to evaluate catheter tip placement and were followed up at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
Results: All catheter tips were placed properly in front of the foramen of Monro in the desired position, except in one case in which the tip migrated to the perimesencephalic cistern and underwent reoperation in the early postoperative period. No complications due to infection and obstruction were observed in the medium- and long-term follow-ups. The complication rate due to the incorrect catheter positioning was 4.76% of the total cases.
Conclusion: The placement of the ventricular catheter under EM-guided navigation technology reduces the proximal-end failure caused by malpositioning, obstruction, and infection.