Gestational Maturity and Gender Distribution in Children with Congenital Hydrocephalus Undergoing Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery: A Prospective Hospital-Based Study in Bangladesh
Keywords:
Congenital hydrocephalus, Gestational Maturity, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt, LMICAbstract
Background: Congenital hydrocephalus is a birth-onset neurological disorder that disproportionately affects children in low- and middle-income countries. Identifying the demographic profile of patients particularly gestational age at birth and sex distribution is fundamental for understanding disease heterogeneity, counseling families, and planning community-level screening programs.
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the distribution of gestational age at birth and gender distribution among children with congenital hydrocephalus undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery at a tertiary referral hospital in Bangladesh.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, between January 2022 and June 2023. Purposive sampling was used to enroll 40 children (<18 months) diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus and treated with VPS. Gestational age was classified as preterm (<37 weeks) and term (≥37 weeks). Gender was recorded as male or female following physical examination.
Results: A total number of 40 children were recruited for this study after inclusion and exclusion criteria, 4(9.5%) expired during the 6-month follow-up, leaving 36 children for analysis. Males comprised 16(44.4%) and females 20(55.6%), yielding a female-to-male ratio of 1.3:1. Fourteen children (38.9%) were born preterm (<37 weeks) and 22(61.1%) were born at term (≥37 weeks).
Conclusion: Female preponderance and a high prevalence of preterm birth characterize this cohort of children with congenital hydrocephalus, consistent with regional reports but warranting attention in maternal-neonatal risk counseling. Despite delays between symptom onset and surgical intervention, ventriculoperitoneal shunting significantly reduced cranial vault dimensions and achieved measurable, early improvements in gross motor function.
Journal of National Institute of Neurosciences Bangladesh, July 2025;11(2):110-113
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Copyright (c) 2025 Anwar Hossain, Kazi Saiful Islam, Kamrun Nahar Begum, Kalim Uddin, Md Ziaul Hoq, Mohammad Samsul Arifin, Md Ataur Rahman
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