Hydrocephalus Shunting
Hydrocephalus shunting drains excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid from the intracranial and spinal compartments to another part of the body using catheters and flow control valves.
Summary
Shunting is the most common treatment for anyone with hydrocephalus (excess fluid buildup in the ventricles of the brain). Hydrocephalus shunting involves the implantation of two catheters and flow control valve system to drain the excess accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain’s ventricles (or the lumbar subarachnoid space) to another part of the body where it can be absorbed.
A person can be born with hydrocephalus or may acquire it due to injury or disease. An older adult with normal pressure hydrocephalus might also be a candidate for a shunt.
Types of Valves
There are two types of differential pressure valves: fixed and adjustable. Fixed pressure valves have been used for years with success, but a drawback was the need for shunt revision due to changes in the patient’s pressure/flow requirements. The answer to this was the development of adjustable pressure valves. The benefit of these types of valves is that the pressure/flow performance level setting can be changed after implantation, potentially avoiding the cost and trauma of shunt revision surgery.
NPH: Early Diagnosis and Management (PDF, 432 KB)
Handbook for clinicians about NPH
