Neuroendoscopic lavage in neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a systematic review and single-arm…

Meta-analysisJournal of neurosurgery. Pediatrics· Jul 2026

Neuroendoscopic lavage in neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Walter Fagundes, Lucca T A Carretta, Martín Kotochinsky … Rafael T F Santos

Read paper

Pediatric NeurosurgeryMeta-analysisTreatmentQ1IF 2.0

Neuroendoscopic lavage for neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus leaves 58.3% shunt-dependent.

Neuroendoscopic lavage in neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Walter Fagundes … Rafael T F Santos

Journal of neurosurgery · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Background

Posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus) is a significant complication of intraventricular hemorrhage (intraventricular hemorrhage) in preterm neonates.

Purpose

The authors aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of neuroendoscopic lavage alone for early treatment of posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus in neonates.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines and the PRISMA statement.

n = 312 neonates

58.3%

Results

58.3%

more than half still needed a permanent shunt despite lavage

n = 312 neonates

More results

The authors evaluated 312 neonates from 9 studies.

The infection rate was 5.6% (95% CI 1.7-9.6%, I2 = 48.4%), while the incidence of multiloculated hydrocephalus was 6.5% (95% CI 1.56-11.4%, I2 = 32.6%).

Mortality was low at 2.4% (95% CI 0%-4.9%, I2 = 25.2%).

“

Conclusion · 1 of 3

This meta-analysis of neuroendoscopic lavage for neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus showed moderate rates of shunt dependence, along with low rates of infection and mortality.

Conclusion · 2 of 3

These findings suggest that neuroendoscopic lavage is a safe procedure associated with relatively low ventriculoperitoneal shunt dependence; however, well-designed randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these results and to compare neuroendoscopic lavage with traditional management strategies.

Conclusion · 3 of 3

Systematic review registration no. CRD42024556947 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).

Neuroendoscopic lavage in neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Neuroendoscopic lavage in neonatal posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus: a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis.

Related papers