Anatomic variations of the floor of the third ventricle: Surgical implications for endoscopic third ventriculostomy

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is currently used as a treatment for different types of hydrocephalus. However, the anatomical endoscopic variants of the third ventricle floor (3VF), as well as their surgical implications, have been underrated. The anatomic variations of the 3VF can influence the technique and the success rate of the ETV. The purpose of this article is to describe the anatomical variations of 3VF, assess their incidence, and discuss the implications for ETV. METHODS: Intraoperative videos of 216 patients who underwent ETV between January 2012 and February 2020 at Hospital Infantil Universitario de San José, Bogotá, Colombia were reviewed. One hundred and eighty patients who met the criteria to demonstrate the type of 3VF were selected. RESULTS: 3VF types were classified as follows: (1) Thinned, (2) thickened, (3) partially erased, (4) globular or herniated, and (5) narrowed. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of anatomical variations of the 3VF is paramount for ETV and it influences the success rate of the procedure.