SHUNT MALFUNCTION IN TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS- WHETHER GRADE AND CSF PICTURE AFFECT OUTCOME

SHIVENDER SOBTI; SACHIN SINGH; AMIT KUMAR SINGH; LAXMI NARAYAN GUPTA; SURYANARAYANAN BHASKAR; AJAY CHOUDHARY

Volume : IX, Issue : VIII, August - 2020

SHUNT MALFUNCTION IN TUBERCULOUS MENINGITIS- WHETHER GRADE AND CSF PICTURE AFFECT OUTCOME

Shivender Sobti, Sachin Singh, Amit Kumar Singh, Laxmi Narayan Gupta, Suryanarayanan Bhaskar, Ajay Choudhary

Abstract :

BACKGROUND Tuberculosis remains a major global problem and a public health issue of considerable magnitude. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one third of the world�s population is infected with mycobacterium tuberculosis, with the highest prevalence of tuberculosis in Asia. Shunt surgery for hydrocephalus associated with tuberculous meningitis has proven to be highly efficacious. Few studies have addressed the issue of outcome of shunt surgery and impact of CSF (Cereospinal fluid) picture in post tuberculous meningitis hydrocephalus shunt surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study was a prospective study conducted in Department of Neurosurgery, PGIMER, Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi. The duration of follow up was of 6 months. 70 patients were enrolled in the study. All patients who underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery for hydrocephalus with tuberculous meningitis in Neurosurgery department at PGIMER & Dr.RML hospital were included in the study. All the patients who had hydrocephalus following tuberculous meningitis were evaluated using Modified Vellore grading of TBM and hydrocephalus. All the patients who underwent ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery had have their CSF analysis (cytology, protein, sugar, Gram stain, ZN stain, India ink and aerobic culture) done. Outcome of the surgery were evaluated based on Glasgow outcome score (GOS), radiological parameters and complications. Statistical analysis was performed by the SPSS program for Windows, version 17.0. RESULTS The age of patients enrolled into the study varied from 2 months to 87 years with 44.3% of patients in 1-5 years age group. Patients were divided into 4 grades according to Modified Vellore Grading. Grades at the time of admission were compared with the final Glasgow outcome scale. At the time of admission 6 patients were in Grade I, 13 patients in Grade II, 45 patients in Grade III and 6 patients in Grade IV. GOS was 5 in Grade I, 4.69 +/- in Grade II, 4.50 +/- IN Grade III and 2.17+/- in Grade IV. Outcome was compared according to Cereospinal fluid (CSF) cell count, sugar and protein levels but none was found to be significant. Number of shunt revisions were compared to CSF cell count and sugar level but none was found to be significant. Mean FH/ID ratio before surgery was 60.89% which was reduced to 43.70% after 6 months follow up. CONCLUSION Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt surgery is a safe and effective treatment modality to treat tuberculous meningitis with hydrocephalus in all grades of patients except in Grade IV. CSF protein, sugar levels and cell count neither affect the outcome nor increase the risk of shunt malfunction