Hydrocephalus (Water on the Brain) – Top USMLE Diseases

Osmotic diuretics increase tubular fluid osmolarity, pulling water into the collecting tubules and preventing water reabsorption, which results in osmotic diuresis. The primary osmotic diuretic used clinically is mannitol. The primary indication for mannitol is to treat cases of increased intracranial or intraocular pressure, which can have significant effects on fluid volume and sodium concentration, so caution must be exercised when using these agents.

The ventricular system is an extension of the subarachnoid space into the brain consisting of a series of interconnecting spaces and channels. Four chambers are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF): the paired lateral ventricles, the unpaired 3rd ventricle, and the unpaired 4th ventricle. Connections between the structures occur via the interventricular foramen of Monro and the cerebral aqueduct (sylvian aqueduct). The foramen of Magendie and the foramen of Luschka, are additional channels present in the 4th ventricle.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the triad of gait abnormalities, dementia, and urinary urgency or incontinence. Normal pressure hydrocephalus can be either idiopathic or secondary to intraventricular or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Symptoms may be similar to those of Alzheimer and Parkinson's diseases. Diagnosis of NPH is clinical, in addition to lumbar puncture testing and neuroimaging. Management is with surgical shunt placement to drain excess CSF from the cerebral ventricles.

Hydrocephalus is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricular system. Hydrocephalus can be classified as communicating, which is caused by either impaired CSF absorption or excess CSF production; or non-communicating, which is caused by a structural blockage in CSF flow. The causes of hydrocephalus can be congenital or acquired. The clinical presentation is often nonspecific with symptoms including headache, behavioral changes, developmental delays, or nausea and vomiting. If the hydrocephalus is congenital or acquired at a young age, infants often present with macrocephaly. Diagnosis is confirmed with neuroimaging (ultrasound, computed tomography of the head, or magnetic resonance imaging) showing ventriculomegaly. Treatment is most commonly surgical with the placement of a CSF shunt.