MATERIAL and METHODS: 14 adult patients with triventricular hydrocephalus treated with standard technique of third ventriculostomy between June 2002 and 2005 were included. There were ten males and four females in the series. The mean age of the males and females was 21.8 years and 23.5 years. The patients presented with the signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and all were evaluated preoperatively with conventional and cine-phase contrast MR.

RESULTS: All the patients were operated successfully with an uneventful early postoperative period. The patients were followed up for an average of 3.4 years. One of the patients had undergone an operation for subdural hematoma encountered one month after surgery. In one patient, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was also performed because of the persistent hydrocephalus after ETV.

CONCLUSIONS: Although ETV had been initially recommended for the treatment of patients older than 2 years with triventricular hydrocephalus causing a significant bulge into the interpeduncular cisterna and therefore translucent appearance of third ventricle floor, it has been currently performed in both communicated and non-communicated hydrocephalus cases.Adult triventricular hydrocephalus can be treated successfully with ETV. Anahtar Kelimeler : Endoscopic third ventriculostomy, Triventricular hydrocephalus, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt