The condition causes fluid build- up in the brain making the head look bigger and heavier. Embracing early treatment can save the lives of children ~

A team comprising of Dr. Ashwin Borkar, Dr Vinod Rambal, Dr. Rajashri Tayshete Bhasale and Dr. Nitu Mundhra performed a complex & critical surgery on the newborn with hydrocephalus, water accumulation in the head of the newborn. Baby is doing well now.

Baby boy was diagnosed with hydrocephalus in intrauterine life, a rare condition called hydrocephalus which causes fluid-build up in the brain increasing the size of the head. Mother came to know about this condition in one of the Ultrasound examinations at 26 weeks. Following which she visited Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road. Further evaluation showed Arachnoid Cyst (Accumulation of CSF) in posterior fossa which led to hydrocephalus.

Prevalence of Arachnoid cyst in the foetal period was reported to be approximately 0.2 – 0.9%. The patient was monitored clinically and by Ultrasound for increasing size of head. Baby was delivered at 37 weeks through LSCS done by Dr Rajashri Tayshete.

Baby boy was born on 3^rd May 2023. The new born baby was kept in NICU for further evaluation and management under Dr. Nitu Mundhra, Consultant Neonatologist.

A MRI brain with whole spine screening was done. Baby was diagnosed to have Dandy Walker syndrome _ a condition associated with large posterior fossa cyst, cerebellar atrophy and gross obstructive hydrocephalus. In this condition the brain fluid (CSF) flow is disturbed as the CSF outflow pathway is not formed normally since birth leading to trapping of significant amounts of CSF within the brain and enlargement of the head size. The neurosurgery team comprising of Dr. Ashwin Borkar and Dr. Vinod Rambal operated on the baby on the third day of life with a surgery called Ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In this surgery a small hole is drilled in the skull, a small shunt tube is passed with one end into the ventricular (brain cavity) to drain CSF into the abdominal cavity at the other end. This procedure provides CSF diversion, relieves the brain pressure and helps in normal brain growth. After the successful surgery the baby showed remarkable improvement and both mother and child were discharged in healthy condition.”  Said Dr Ashwin Borkar, Consultant Neurosurgeon specialized in brain and spine surgery, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.

“We were unaware of the condition that our baby suffered from. We panicked and were worried about his future. How will he survive? This question haunted us. Fortunately, the doctors at Wockhardt Hospitals Mira Road were able to provide timely intervention and give the second lease of life to our baby,” concluded the patient’s mother Pooja Khunt.