Diagnostic value of EEG in predicting the results of shunt surgery in post-traumatic hydrocephalus

Post-traumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is one of the frequent consequences of severe traumatic brain injury, which complicate the recovery and rehabilitation of victims. Performing a bypass surgery is an important stage in the treatment of this category of patients. However, predicting its effectiveness, especially in patients in vegetative status and in a state of minimal manifestations of consciousness, causes significant difficulties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the informative value of EEG in patients with PTH accompanied by depression of consciousness as a preoperative predictor of the effectiveness of bypass surgery. Material and methods. In 27 patients with PTH and varying degrees of depression of consciousness (from coma to its minimal manifestations), the features of the EEG pattern and resting coherence indices before and after cerebrospinal fluid shunting operations were compared with the clinical outcome. Results. It was revealed that a certain EEG pattern (in the form of flattening, a combination of slow delta-theta oscillations with synchronized frequent activity in the absence of alpha rhythm, smoothness of interhemispheric and zonal differences) or specific coherence disorders (weakening of interhemispheric coherent connections to 30–40% of the norm and strengthening of two-sided intrahemispheric ones by more than one and a half times) are associated with the lowest bypass surgery. Conclusion. The informativeness of the preoperative EEG parameters used to assess the prospects of cerebrospinal fluid bypass surgery in patients with PTH is shown.