Advanced neurosurgery saves 4-year-old with hydrocephalus
Times of India | 24 February 2025
123 Kolkata: The life of a four-year-old boy suffering from ‘early-onset hydrocephalus' was saved at a city private hospital after he developed a serious brain infection that was rare and potentially fatal. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess fluid builds up in the brain, increasing pressure inside the skull. In this child, it was caused by "aqueductal stenosis", a blockage in the pathway that normally drains brain fluid.
A few days before arriving at Charnock Hospital, where he was treated, he fell critically ill and was treated at another hospital.Champions Trophy 2025IND vs PAK Live: Virat Kohli leads India's run chase vs Pakistan in DubaiIND vs PAK: Virat Kohli reaches 14,000 ODI runs in 299th matchHardik Pandya vs Babar Azam: Social media sparks meme fest after Pandya’s send-off to Pakistan batterHe was unable to move, speak, or eat normally. After doctors at Charnock assessed his test reports, they realised he was ‘sinking' and could soon reach an irretrievable condition.
A CT scan of his brain revealed a large subdural empyema — a collection of pus (infection) between the brain and its outer protective layers. The infection had also spread along his VP shunt (ventriculoperitoneal shunt), a procedure in which a tube is inserted into the brain to drain excess fluid into the abdomen, preventing pressure buildup, making his condition critical. Doctors performed surgery to remove the pus and the infected shunt, but his condition worsened.
A medical team was formed under neurosurgeon Rohit Mishra to supervise the boy's treatment. Mishra performed an emergency endoscopic craniotomy, a minimally invasive surgery to remove the pus from the brain. To manage the excess fluid build-up, he placed an external ventricular drain (EVD) — a temporary tube that allows fluid to drain outside the body, helping relieve pressure on the brain.
Under the care of paediatrician Prateek Pal, the child's condition steadily improved. Once his condition stabilised, Doctors removed the EVD and performed a fresh VP shunt surgery on the opposite side of his brain.
The child made a full recovery and was discharged two days after the EVD procedure.
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