INTRODUCTION: There are some controversial items concerning normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The incidence of NPH is unknown since there is not agreement concerning diagnostic criteria. The choice of shunt location and valve type may be difficult if we consider the wide range of options available. We present a descriptive multicentric study which pretends evaluate the consensus between different centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have requested 19 neurosurgical departments about diagnostic criteria, shunt location, valve type, cases number per year and therapeutic results. RESULTS: The study shows the lack of agreement in our sample. We observed some kind of relationship between the number of cases/year and the use of more complex and invasive diagnostic procedures. The most frequently shunt location was ventricleperitoneal. Concerning type valve, most of departments use to have a predilection for a certain type and model which was ever used. However, the model was frequently different on each department. Anyway, differential pressure valve was the more frequent choice. The average therapeutic result of the sample was 77.6%. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, is advisable to define a common diagnostic criteria for NPH in order to establish the real incidence of this entity.
INTRODUCTION: There are some controversial items concerning normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). The incidence of NPH is unknown since there is not agreement concerning diagnostic criteria. The choice of shunt location and valve type may be difficult if we consider the wide range of options available. We present a descriptive multicentric study which pretends evaluate the consensus between different centers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have requested 19 neurosurgical departments about diagnostic criteria, shunt location, valve type, cases number per year and therapeutic results. RESULTS: The study shows the lack of agreement in our sample. We observed some kind of relationship between the number of cases/year and the use of more complex and invasive diagnostic procedures. The most frequently shunt location was ventricleperitoneal. Concerning type valve, most of departments use to have a predilection for a certain type and model which was ever used. However, the model was frequently different on each department. Anyway, differential pressure valve was the more frequent choice. The average therapeutic result of the sample was 77.6%. CONCLUSIONS: In our opinion, is advisable to define a common diagnostic criteria for NPH in order to establish the real incidence of this entity.