Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV)

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About the Surgery

What is a Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV)?

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Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is an alternative surgical procedure that creates a bypass for the cerebrospinal fluid in the head that eliminates the need for a shunt.The goal of an ETV is to bypass the obstruction causing the hydrocephalus by diverting it through the floor of the third ventricle.

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Day of the Surgery

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  • Your surgical team will be with you every step of the way
  • You will be in the ICU after your surgery
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After the Surgery

Home Care

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Incision Care

  • Wash incision daily with shampoo and water ( application of antibiotic ointment not necessary unless instructed by Neurosurgery team)
  • You may scrub incision lightly to help prevent scab formation
  • No beach/pool ( 1st month after surgery) or  until cleared by Neurosurgery
  • Avoid direct sunlight on incision ( May wear a cap or hat to go outside)
  • Do not scratch incision

Activity

  • Keep activity level  back to normal or light until you are seen in clinic
  • May return to school  after second week post-surgery, unless not cleared by Neurosurgery
  • No participation in Physical Education for 1 month or until cleared by Neurosurgery

Pain control

  • You may take over the counter medications, which include:
    • Acetaminophen every 4 hours or Motrin every 6 hours if needed
    • These medications can be alternating

Follow-up Office Visit

  • You will be seen in Neurosurgery office approximately 10-14 days after leaving the hospital for symptom evaluation and suture removal, if sutures are not dissolvable 
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When to call the office

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  • Fever greater than 101.5°F oral or axillary
  • Increased swelling, redness, or oozing from incision area
  • Signs of increased intracranial pressure:
    • Infants: Fontanel full and tense on infant  who is upright and quiet, poor feeding, episodes of spitting up or vomiting, increased sleeping, eyes always looking down, or irritability
    • Children: persistent headache not relieved with pain medication, often associated with nausea/vomiting, changes in alertness  
*These symptoms requires immediate attention as it can potentially lead to a coma. Return to emergency room during off hours and unable to communicate with office*
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Resources

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Questions or Concerns?
Call us @ 305-662-8386

This page was last updated on: January 29, 2019 03:21 PM

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