HWN Suggests

An Imperfect Science: Diagnosis of CSF Shunt Malfunction

There are multiple forms of CSF shunts, the most common of which is the Ventriculo-Peritoneal shunt (as opposed to ventriculo-atrial & ventriculo-pleural) which shunts CSF into the peritoneal cavity. A CSF shunt is composed of a proximal catheter, reservoir, valve and distal catheter. The proximal catheter starts in the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle and exits through a burr hole to connect to the reservoir which is located in the subcutaneous tissue (this is what is accessed when neurosurgery taps a shunt). Flow from the reservoir to the distal catheter is regulated by a one way valve. Programmable shunts allow for the setting of a specific pressure above which fluid drains through…

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Articles of Interest

Tapping a VP Shunt

The number of technology dependent children that we see seems to steadily be increasing. These technologies can be quite beneficial for the patient, but are associated with potential complications and issues. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts certainly benefit patients who have hydrocephalus; but how do we handle their issues?

Hydrocephalus Emergency: How to Tap a VP Shunt

A young girl with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt presented to the emergency room after several days of headache and now altered mental status. CT scan demonstrated severe hydrocephalus. In this video we demonstrate how to do a diagnostic tap of the VP shunt.

New and improved ways to treat hydrocephalus: Pursuit of a smart shunt

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is placement of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt to supplement or replace lost drainage capacity. Shunts are life-saving devices but are notorious for high failure rates, difficulty of diagnosing failure, and limited control options. Shunt designs have changed little since their introduction in 1950s, and the few changes introduced have had little to no impact on these long-standing problems.

Behind Team Hydro–Kate’s Story

Team Hydro was founded when the brothers of a young Hydrocephalus patient became so frustrated by the outdated treatments available for patient’s with the condition, they decided to take action! Having watched their sweet sister endure hundreds of surgeries and hospitalizations in an attempt to stay alive, the boys were desperate to find a way to promote new research.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunting Complications in Children

Although cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt placement is the most common procedure performed by pediatric neurosurgeons, shunts remain among the most failure-prone life-sustaining medical devices implanted in modern medical practice.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt technology has undergone rapid advances in the past two decades. As a result, pediatricians and other primary care physicians are being asked with increasing frequency to provide care for persons with CSF shunts. Familiarity with the more common shunts is a prerequisite to intelligent management of shunt related problems.

How One Family Is Bringing Attention To Hydrocephalus

It is hard enough to support a seriously ill child through a devastating and poorly understood illness. But it is quite another thing to start an organization devoted to raising money to publicize the disease and raise money for research.

Hydrocephalus Awareness Month- A Shunting Alternative

Although shunts are the most common surgical treatment for hydrocephalus and the success rate is high, there are drawbacks for this lifesaving procedure. Shunts may result in mechanical failure, deterioration, blockage or infection. If implanted in children, they need to be replaced as they are outgrown.

Risk Factors for First Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunt Infection: Findings from a Multi-Center Prospective Cohort Study

This study quantifies the elevated risk of infection associated with shunt revisions observed in clinical practice. To reduce risk of infection risk, further work should optimize revision procedures.

Risks of CSF Shunts

Some of the most common risks of CSF shunts include infection, shunt malfunction, and improper drainage.

Surgery For Saving Babies From 'Water On The Brain' Developed in Uganda

It's not every day that surgeons develop a new brain surgery that could save tens of thousands of babies, even a hundred thousand, each year. And it's definitely not every day that the surgery is developed in one of the world's poorest countries.

Resources

Hydrocephalus Association

The management of hydrocephalus has challenged neurosurgeons, neurologists, engineers and medical device developers alike because of the unique nature of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dynamics in each patient. CSF diversion devices or shunts have been used successfully and have become the primary therapy for hydrocephalus treatment...

StatPearls

Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are used to treat hydrocephalus and divert CSF from the lateral ventricles into the peritoneum. Tapping a shunt is performed for both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons (evaluate for infection or malfunction). A VP shunt is one of the high impact advances made in neurosurgical patient care.