What is the shunt system?

What is the shunt system?

Placement of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) shunt systems to treat hydrocephalus is a common medical procedure and a life-saving treatment for many patients. These shunt systems drain excess fluid from the brain to another part of the body where the fluid is absorbed as part of the circulatory process.

What is a VP shunt used for?

A VP shunt is used to drain extra cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from your brain. CSF is the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. It's made in the ventricles (hollow spaces) inside your brain. CSF protects your brain and spinal cord by acting as a cushion.

Can you live a normal life with a shunt?

Overview. Many people with normal pressure hydrocephalus enjoy a normal life with the help of a shunt. Regular, ongoing checkups with the neurosurgeon will help ensure that your shunt is working correctly, your progress is on track, and you are free to keep living the way you want.

What are the side effects of a shunt?

Some of the most common risks of CSF shunts include infection, shunt malfunction, and improper drainage. Infection from a shunt may produce symptoms such as a low-grade fever, soreness of the neck or shoulder muscles, and redness or tenderness along the shunt tract.

How long is hospital stay for shunt surgery?

The actual surgical procedure to implant a shunt typically requires about an hour in the operating room. Afterward, you will be carefully observed for 24 hours. Your stay in the hospital will generally be for two to four days total.

Does a shunt stay in forever?

VP shunts do not work forever. When the shunt stops working: The child can have another buildup of fluid in the brain. Another surgery is needed to fix it.

Can you drink alcohol with a shunt?

There is no medical evidence that a shunt directly affects your reaction to alcohol. The causes of hydrocephalus are varied and specific causes may have affected brain development. An individual's reaction to alcohol may vary based on their type of hydrocephalus or specific response to the substance.

How long can a person live with a shunt in their head?

The mortality rate for hydrocephalus and associated therapy ranges from 0 to 3%. This rate is highly dependent on the duration of follow-up care. The shunt event-free survival is approximately 70% at 12 months and is nearly half that at 10 years, post-operatively.

What should you avoid with a VP shunt?

However, people with LP shunts should avoid any activity which involves twisting at the waist, as this can dislodge the shunt.

• Martial arts. Any activity that involves being grabbed around the neck is not advised, as the shunt tubing in the neck can crack. ...
• Rugby. ...
• Gymnastics and dance. ...
• Water sports. ...
• Golf. ...
• Other activities.

Is putting in a shunt brain surgery?

In most cases, a shunt is surgically inserted. The shunt is a drainage system made of a long tube with a valve. The valve helps CSF flow at a normal rate and in the right direction. Your doctor inserts one end of the tube in your brain and the other end into your chest or abdominal cavity.

Is a shunt considered brain surgery?

Shunt surgery is done by a specialist in brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeon). It's done under a general anaesthetic and usually takes 1 to 2 hours. You may need to stay in hospital for a few days after the operation to recover. If you have stitches, they may dissolve or need to be removed.