3yr old with an arachnoid cyst on his brain?

I am unfortunate to say that I have a ton of experience with arachnoid cysts. I have an arachnoid cyst the size of a golfball on my pituitary gland. As a result of all of this I also have had multiple craniotomies and spent a year in the hospital(not typical now, my surgeries were around 30 years ago) when they initially found it. As a result of the cysts location and size I also have something called Hydrocephalus which is water on the brain that does not drain away. As a result of the hydrocephalus I do have 2 vp shunts - tubes inserted in my brain that go from my head to stomach that drain away the excess fluid and pressure. And as a result of my brain surgery and the location of the cyst on my pituitary I have something called Hypopituitarism which basically means I do not make any hormones of my own and have had to take multiple drugs to replace the missing hormones. I belong to a website for my arachnoid cyst where you post questions and other people answer them. I know for sure that you can get some additional support there. Here is the websites address: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/arachnoidcyst...

Craniotomy Fenestration is done by removing a portion of the skull so the surgeon can access the brain. Then an incision is made into the arachnoid cyst during the fenestration, so that the cyst fluid can drain out.

I know sometimes they can not perform a fenestration and so they use a shunt.

Cysto-peritoneal shunting is the most common form of shunting performed on arachnoid cysts. In this procedure a shunt catheter is placed inside the arachnoid cyst and is attached to a distal tube which allows the cyst fluid to drain down to the abdomen. But in some cases Ventriculo-Perotineal and even Cysto-Pleural shunting are performed on arachnoid cyst patients.

The only problems with shunts is that they can and do malfunction which requires more surgery. I would say that since my initial surgeries when I was 8 years old I have had to have my shunts revised around 4 or 5 times and I am now 45.

Outcomes:

Endoscopic Fenestration

Endoscopic fenestration can achieve positive results, and is minimally invasive. After surgery the patient usually leaves the hospital after 24 hours, if not the same day.

Craniotomy Fenestration

Whenever the brain is open to the air, there is a risk of infection. When a bone flap is removed from the skull, it comes along with a significant amount of pain. But all going well the patient should leave the hospital two to four days after surgery. In some cases the bone flap is wired back onto the skull at a later date, but this sometimes is not necessary.

Shunting

If possible shunting should be a last resort because the patient can become shunt dependent or suffer shunt related complications in addition to the arachnoid cyst. This can result in multiple surgeries, which are called shunt revisions. There is also an increased risk for infection every time the shunt is revised. If the patient becomes infected, the shunt will need to be externalized while the patient is given antibiotics. The hospital stay for this is quite long and entails at least two surgeries. Unfortunately, even if the surgery (whichever it may be) is successful, and symptoms dissipate, arachnoid cysts can reaccumulate.

If the patient’s first surgery was a craniotomy fenestration, the second surgery is usually placement of a shunt. Some have complete resolution with only one surgery, whereas others need three or four before the cyst stops causing symptoms. This is one of the reasons why Arachnoid Cyst Awareness is pleading with the medical world to introduce more research into this subject, so that a more solid cure can be found.

What symptoms does you son have. Is he experiencing headaches. MY inital symptoms were headaches and dizziness. It is good they are operating a lot of neurologists do not believe that arachnoid cysts cause any symptoms what so ever it is written in their textbooks.

I am sure that your son will be fine they do a lot of these surgeries now. If you want to email me directly feel free to my email address is kmf405@sbcglobal.net

Kevin p.s. Sorry for the extra long post

Fenestration Of Arachnoid Cyst

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It is hard to say. One can not predict the outcome of any surgery. There are always risks to any surgery - no matter how major or minor.

It is normal to be concerned for your sons well-being.