ABSTRACT

Background: Surgical treatment of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) includes the use of L.P {lumboperitoneal} shunt have two types from L.P shunt. conventional one {nonprogrammable} and second type adjustable (programmable) was introduced in the last decades. Aim of the Study: To evaluate the effectiveness of adjustable L-P shunt compared to the conventional {nonprogrammable} L-P shunts regarding post-operative outcome and complications. Patients and Methods: This is cohort study [retrospective and prospective] single-center study of 58 patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension treated in the neurosurgical department at the Martyr Ghazi Al-Hariri Hospital for Specialized Surgery for a period extending from August 16th, 2015, till November 26th, 2019. Patients had been referred to the neurosurgical unite from Baghdad city neuromedicine unit or from other centers. Results: This study has two-parts prospective used programmable L.P shunt for 33 patients), Second part retrospective used an old L.P shunt {nonprogrammable} for 25 patients. 88% of the patients were female, with a mean age of 34 years and a high prevalence of obesity. All patients presented with headaches, papilledema, and visual disturbances, and underwent adjustable LP shunt placement, resulting in clinical improvement in 97% of cases for headaches and 85% for visual symptoms. Postoperative complications were minimal, with over-shunting and under-shunting being the most common issues. Conclusions: In conclusion, comparing the adjustable (programmable) LP shunt and conventional (non-programmable) when used to treat IIH has the P value non-significant regarding the infection, over drainage, revision and the CSF leak.