THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, TARTAGLIONE, STACK, ERICKSON, GREENLEAF, BREWSTER, WARD, HUGHES, SCHWANK, RAFFERTY, BROWNE, FONTANA, PILEGGI, DINNIMAN, WAUGH, FERLO, SOLOBAY, COSTA, ALLOWAY AND EARLL, NOVEMBER 1, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, NOVEMBER 1, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of November 2011 as "Hydrocephalus

Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania, and urging governmental

agencies to collect disease incidence data relating to

hydrocephalus.

WHEREAS, Hydrocephalus (Hc) is a condition in which the

primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the

brain; and

WHEREAS, Hc was once known as "water on the brain," where the

"water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear fluid

that surrounds the brain and spinal cord; and

WHEREAS, The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an

abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles,

which creates harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain; and

WHEREAS, CSF has three important life-sustaining functions:

(1)  to keep the brain tissue buoyant, acting as a

cushion or "shock absorber";

(2)  to act as the vehicle for delivering nutrients to

the brain and removing waste; and

(3)  to flow between the cranium and spine and compensate

for changes in intracranial blood volume, the amount of blood

within the brain;

and

WHEREAS, The balance between production and absorption of CSF

is critically important; and

WHEREAS, Because CSF is made continuously, medical conditions

that block its normal flow or absorption will result in an over-

accumulation of CSF, and the resulting pressure of the fluid

against brain tissue is what causes Hc; and

WHEREAS, Hc is a serious neurological condition for which

there is no known cure, and it affects an estimated one million

Americans; and

WHEREAS, Hc can affect anyone at anytime of life for no known

cause or one of 180 known causes; and

WHEREAS, One out of every 500 babies are born with Hc; and

WHEREAS, Hc is the leading cause for brain surgery in

children in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Posttraumatic hydrocephalus (PTH) is a frequent and

serious complication that follows a traumatic brain injury

(TBI); and

WHEREAS, The "Signature Wound" of the war in Iraq and

Afghanistan is TBI caused by explosions, and TBI has become one

of the most common combat wounds suffered in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, If PTH goes unrecognized or untreated, it could

greatly impact and increase morbidity or the mortality rate

following a TBI; and

WHEREAS, More than 375,000 older Americans have Hc, which

often goes undetected or misdiagnosed as dementia, Alzheimer's

disease or Parkinson's disease; and

WHEREAS, The standard treatment for Hc was developed in 1952

and carries multiple risks, including shunt failure, infection,

over drainage, under drainage and death; and

WHEREAS, Children with Hc may have significantly impaired

learning, memory and executive functions; and

WHEREAS, With appropriate diagnosis and treatment, people

with Hc have a greater chance to live full and productive lives;

and

WHEREAS, Each year, the people of the United States spend in

excess of $1 billion to treat Hc; and

WHEREAS, A September 2005 conference sponsored by seven

institutes of the National Institutes of Health, and titled,

"Hydrocephalus: Myths, New Facts, Clear Directions," resulted in

efforts to initiate new, collaborative research and treatment

efforts; and

WHEREAS, Accurate statistics reflecting the rate, cause and

outcome of incidence of Hc and the health and education burden

this condition has on individuals and families have not yet been

collected by the Federal and State governments; and

WHEREAS, Further research into the epidemiology,

pathophysiology, disease burden and improved treatment of Hc

should be conducted within the Federal and State governments;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of November

2011 as "Hydrocephalus Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania so that

Pennsylvanians can become more familiar with Hc and the

individuals dedicated to finding its cure.