Shunt
A shunt is a flexible but sturdy silastic tube. A shunt system consists of the shunt, a catheter, and a valve. One end of the catheter is placed in the CNS, most usually within a ventricle inside the brain, but also potentially within a cyst or in a site close to the spinal cord. The other end of the catheter is commonly placed with the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity, but may also be placed at other sites with the body such as a chamber of the heart or a cavity in the lung where the CSF can drain and be absorbed. A valve located along the catheter maintains one-way flow and regulates the rate of CSF flow.
Complications may include mechanical failure, infections, obstructions, and the need to lengthen or replace the catheter. Generally, shunt systems require monitoring and regular medical follow up. When complications do occur, usually the shunt system will require some type of revision.
In addition to the common symptoms of hydrocephalus, infections from a shunt may also produce symptoms such as a low-grade fever, soreness of the neck or shoulder muscles, and redness or tenderness along the shunt tract. When there is reason to suspect that a shunt system is not functioning properly (for example, if the symptoms of hydrocephalus return), medical attention should be sought immediately.
| Service Name | Appointment |
|---|---|
| Adult Neurosurgery - Hydrocephalus Program | 734-936-7010 |
| Pediatric Neurosurgery - Hydrocephalus Program | 734-936-5062 |
