Hydrocephalus and epileptic seizures.

Is there an association between shunted hydrocephalus and the development of epileptic seizures? To answer this question a retrospective review of the medical records of 197 patients with shunted hydrocephalus was undertaken. In this series 17% of patients with hydrocephalus developed seizures. No correlation was found between the occurrence of epileptic seizures and a shunt malfunction, the number of shunts placed, the age of the patient at the initial shunt procedure or the location of the shunt. Patients with hydrocephalus who had significant cognitive delay or significant motor disability were significantly more likely to develop seizures than patients who did not. The findings of this review support the hypothesis that the occurrence of seizures in children with hydrocephalus is related to an underlying diffuse encephalopathy and not to the hydrocephalus or to procedures related to the treatment of this disorder.