Beneath the endoscopic third ventriculostomy success score: mechanisms behind prediction in pediatric hydrocephalus

Abstract Hydrocephalus remains one of the most common and challenging conditions in pediatric neurosurgery, with substantial morbidity and long-term healthcare burden worldwide. Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV) has emerged as an important alternative to cerebrospinal fluid shunting; however, its success remains highly variable across patient populations. To address this variability, the Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy Success Score (ETVSS) was developed to identify patients most likely to