Vp Shunt Working
1 alternatives such as endoscopic third ventriculostomy have not been proven to match the clinical results achieved by shunt placement.
Vp shunt working. Although a working shunt is good news for a patient with hydrocephalus unnecessary radiation exposure is not. A ventriculoperitoneal vp shunt is a medical device that relieves pressure on the brain caused by fluid accumulation. Hydrocephalus is a condition that cerebrospinal fluid csf accumulates in the brain.
A ventriculoperitoneal shunt drains excess brain fluid reducing brain pressure to a safe level. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt also known as vp shunt is a device surgically implanted on a brain ventricle as a highly effective treatment option for hydrocephalus. Ventriculoperitoneal shunts consist of a valve and two tubes called catheters which drain the.
Ventriculorperitoneal shunt vps placement is a common neurosurgical procedure with approximately 30 000 shunt procedures performed annually in the united states however complication rates remain considerably high vps failure rates have been estimated at approximately 11 25 within the first year after initial shunt placement with most sources reporting a. Ventriculoatrial va shunts may be used as an alternative but they should be used only in patients with impairment of. As a child grows the shunt may need to be repositioned.
First ventriculoperitoneal vp shunt placement is the treatment of choice for patients with nph. If this happens fluid will begin to build up in the brain again. Shunt complications that develop in the peritoneum or abdominal area include peritoneal pseudocysts lost distal catheters bowel perforations and hernias.
Vp shunting is a surgical procedure that primarily treats a condition called. Although ventriculoperitoneal vp shunts do not have fewer complications than ventriculoatrial shunts the complications are less severe and have a lower mortality rate. Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is surgery to treat excess cerebrospinal fluid csf in the cavities ventricles of the brain.
The current incidence of shunt infection in most neurosurgical units is about 5 8 but many units are now achieving better results as a result of preventative measures and protocols.