Hydrocephalus in adults, often called "dropsy" of the brain, is associated with the accumulation of fluid in its shells. Naturally, such a violation causes a number of dangerous consequences, including disturbances in mental activity, as well as a change in gait and loss of control over some natural processes.
It is customary to distinguish several forms of the disease. For example, external hydrocephalus in adults is characterized by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid directly under the membrane, thereby compressing brain tissue. While the internal accumulation of fluid is already observed inside the brain, which causes stretching of the tissues. There is also mixed hydrocephalus in adults, in which fluid accumulates both inside and in the membranes.
Internal hydrocephalus in adults: the course of the disease and the main symptoms
As already mentioned, with this form of the disease, cerebrospinal fluid accumulates inside the brain - in the cavities of the ventricles. A constant increase in fluid volume stretches the tissues, causing disruptions in the functioning of the whole organism.
The first symptom of hydrocephalus is a change in gait. It is this symptom that appears most early, a few days after the onset of the disease, while other signals can appear only after a few months. At first, the walk of a sick person becomes uncertain and very slow. As the disease progresses, the person's condition worsens. Sometimes he simply cannot take a step, stomping at the same time in one place. Hand movements are also difficult. With further progression of hydrocephalus, a person begins to lose a sense of balance - he constantly staggers, sometimes even falls. More severe forms of the disease are characterized by the loss of the ability to walk, sit or even lift parts of the body on your own.
Hydrocephalus in adults also causes severe mental disorders. Such people have significantly dulled emotional reactions, they fall into apathy, lose their sense of time and reality. In the future, the appearance of convulsions, hallucinations.
Even at the beginning of the development of the disease, patients may feel very frequent urge to urinate, but simply do not pay attention to them. With further progression, urinary incontinence is observed in patients.
It is mental disorders, urinary incontinence and violation of the walking process - this is an invariable triad that accompanies this disease.
Hydrocephalus in adults: diagnostic methods
As a rule, the presence of the aforementioned triad of symptoms causes the doctor to suspect. The patient, in addition to being referred for general tests, is sent to an MRI and CT scan of the brain. Research results indicate the presence of extensions in almost all parts of the brain.
Nevertheless, the surest way to diagnose this is by conducting so-called ICP monitoring. This procedure is carried out during the day, which allows us to judge the presence and severity of the disease. Monitoring is carried out using special intraventricular sensors and only under the supervision of an experienced neurosurgeon.
Treatment of hydrocephalus in adults
In almost any case, in order to alleviate the patient's condition and stop the further progression of symptoms, surgical correction methods are used. During the operation, the surgeon places a shunt in the right parts of the brain, with the help of which the removal of excess fluid from the membranes and cavities is carried out.
In addition, some methods of conservative medicine are also used. In particular, patients with a similar diagnosis are prescribed special medications, the effect of which is aimed at stopping the formation of excessive cerebrospinal fluid.