Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the value of cerebro-vascular resistive
index (RI) in the assessment of hydrocephalic infants. Patients and Methods: Forty selected
hydrocephalic infants were examined by cranial sonography, CT brain scanning and transcranial
color Doppler ultrasonography. These cases were classified into slight, mild, moderate
and sever degrees of hydrocephalus and resistive index value was estimated in each case.
Results: In this study RI was elevated in cases of hydrocephalus denoting increased cerebrovascular
resistance and there is linear relationship between degree of hydrocephalus and degree
of RI elevation. Ten cases out of the selected 40 cases were followed before and after
shunt operation. In this group there was a significant decrease of RI value after shunt operation
denoting successful decompression of intracranial pressure.
Conclusion: The results clearly demonstrated that TCD and evaluation of cerebrovascular
RI can be a useful, non-invasive means of assessing the degree of hydrocephalus and also for
follow up and monitoring shunt operation. |
