Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV)
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a bypass for the cerebrospinal fluid around the brain. The procedure may eliminate the need for an internal CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) shunt. The most common indication for an ETV is non-communicating hydrocephalus, which is caused by a blockage to the flow of CSF.
This procedure is endoscopic, meaning that the surgery is performed with the use of an endoscope (fiber-optic scope). An endoscope is a thin tube that has a strong light, a powerful magnifying lens and a passage through which delicate instruments are passed. The surgeon guides the instrument through a burrhole into the ventricles of the brain. A specific target is identifies where the surgeon creates a communication between one cavity and another.