Anatomical variations of the floor of the third ventricle in patients with hydrocephalus may affect the surgical outcome?

Introduction: Anatomical variation of the floor membrane of the third ventricle can occurs in patients with hydrocephalus of any etiology and age and can affect the surgical outcome. Methods: Images of the floor of the third ventricle were captured and analyzed from videos of 99 patients with hydrocephalus of different etiologies and ages who underwent endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with emphasis on the type of floor membrane. Results: Based on the types of membranes of the floors of the third ventricle found in our study and the data described in the available literature, we can describe four “main types of membranes” with their common characteristics and “subdivisions of the main membranes” where they present common types of main membrane associated with details and/or abnormalities. Conclusion: Anatomical variations of the floor of the third ventricle occur in patients with hydrocephalus of any etiology and age and their recognition is essential before the main surgical procedure (ETV), as they increase the risk of injuries that can affect the surgical outcome.