To examine the literature on venous sinus stenting (VSS) in pediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and assess its therapeutic role for clinical practice, emphasizing the need for standardized clinical guidelines.
Key Findings:
Six primary studies were identified, reporting outcomes in a total of 36 pediatric patients.
Patient selection for VSS is individualized and lacks standardized guidelines.
Most centers require radiological confirmation of transverse sinus stenosis and a trans-stenotic gradient threshold, commonly ≥ 8 mmHg.
Interpretation:
The findings suggest that while VSS may be beneficial for pediatric IIH, the evidence is limited and should be considered hypothesis-generating rather than definitive clinical guidelines, highlighting the need for further research.
Limitations:
The review is based on only six small observational cohorts.
Patient selection criteria are subjective and inconsistent across institutions.
Variability in antiplatelet regimens and practices across centers.
Conclusion:
Standardized guidelines for patient selection and treatment protocols in pediatric IIH are necessary to improve clinical decision-making and comparability across studies, and future research should focus on establishing these guidelines.
