Philippine E-Journals

Ventriculo-Peritoneal shunting in tuberculous meningitis

Flor Caballar-Gonzaga | Aida M Salonga | Lillian V Lee

Discipline: medicine by specialism

 

Abstract:

In order to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of tuberculous meningitis patients who underwent ventricul-peritoneal shunting for complicating hydrocephalus, the charts and autopsy records of 37 patients were examined. The mean age of patients was 3.2 years (range: 6 months -10 years) with 54% belonging to the 1-2 years age group. Half of the patients were admitted with Gordon and Parsons Stage 2 disease and the remaining half were Stage 3. Majority (16/19) of Stage 2 patients after shunting fully recovered or remained with mild neourologic deficits. Only one Stage 2 patient died of herniation. In contrast, 6 of 18 Stage 3 patients died and the rest who survived remained to have severe neurologic sequelae. This emphasizes more than ever the importance of early treatment of childhood tuberculosis and the value of primary prevention.