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Clinical Studies and Research

Laying the groundwork for a healthy future.

The Brain Care Institute has several initiatives in place to further research and clinical trials in the area of hydrocephalus. Some of these programs include:

Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) Registry: The HCRN, a collaboration of elite pediatric neurosurgery centers in North America, is compiling a registry that will help researchers understand the variability in current treatment practices for hydrocephalus in children and provide pilot and descriptive data for hypothesis generation and study design. Pediatric patients with hydrocephalus under the care of Children’s Hospital will be eligible for the registry.
Hydrocephalus Shunting Outcomes Review: This multicenter research study examines the ways in which infants are treated for intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of prematurity and post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH). Through this program, researchers will compile a comprehensive database about babies diagnosed with and treated for PHH as a prelude to a large multi-center clinical trial looking to find the optimal way to treat these patients. A project of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network, the study is open to infants of both genders up to 180 days of age who have been diagnosed with PHH, who may require treatment through shunting.
Hydrocephalus Treatment and Neuropsychological Outcomes: The purpose of this study is to discover if there is a link between pre-operative size of cerebral ventricles (fluid-filled cavities in the brain) and intellectual capabilities of children with hydrocephalus following surgery. The study is open to children 5 years and older who have been diagnosed with hydrocephalus and may require surgical treatment.

The Brain Care Institute also has adopted a standardized perioperative protocol designed to lessen the risk of shunt infection in children undergoing shunt insertion or revision surgery.

Last Update
May 29, 2012

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