On the optimal opening pressure of hydrostatic valves in cases of idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus: a prospective randomized study with 123 patients.

Does the opening pressure of hydrostatic shunts influence the clinical outcome for patients suffering from idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)? Between September 1997 and January 2003, 123 patients with idiopathic NPH were surgically treated by implanting a hydrostatic shunt at the Departments of Neurosurgery of the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin and the University Homburg/Saar. As part of a prospective randomized study, all patients were examined preoperatively, postoperatively, and 1 year after the intervention. Forty-three percent of the patients showed a very good outcome, 25% good outcome, 20% fair outcome, and 12% poor outcome 1 year after the shunt implantation. Patients treated with an opening pressure rating of 50 mmH2O in the low-pressure stage of the gravitational valve showed a better outcome than those with an opening pressure of 100 or 130 mmH2O. According to present knowledge, hydrostatic shunts with an opening pressure of 50 mmH2O for the low-pressure stage are the best option for patients with idiopathic NPH. Due to the prompt switching function when the patient changes posture (lying down, standing, sitting, slanting etc.), the Miethke gravity-assisted valve (GAV) is more suitable in such cases than the Miethke Dual-Switch valve (DSV).