How serious is brain shunt surgery?
How serious is brain shunt surgery?
Placement of a shunt is a very safe procedure. However, complications can occur during or after the procedure. Risks associated with any surgical procedure include excessive bleeding and infection.
Does shunt surgery cause brain damage?
A shunt blockage can be very serious as it can lead to an build-up of excess fluid in the brain, which can cause brain damage. This will cause the symptoms of hydrocephalus. Emergency surgery will be needed to replace the malfunctioning shunt.
How is an enlarged brain ventricle treated?
The treatment in these cases is a shunt operation. A shunt is a thin tube that is implanted in the brain by a neurosurgeon. It is inserted into the ventricles to drain excess CSF away from the brain.
What happens when brain ventricles enlarge?
The ventricles enlarge to handle the increased volume of CSF, thus compressing the brain from within and eventually damaging or destroying the brain tissue.
What does a VP shunt do?
A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a thin plastic tube that helps drain extra cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain.
How long is recovery from shunt surgery?
It is okay for you to lie on the side of your head with the shunt. For 6 weeks, do not do any activity that may cause you to hit your head. You will probably be able to return to work in less than 1 week.
What are the treatment options for ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts?
Patients treated with ventriculoatrial (VA) shunts may develop a more serious infection, which may enter the bloodstream. When a shunt infection occurs, the standard treatment is the surgical removal of all of the shunt hardware.
What is the success rate of hydrocephalus shunt surgery?
According to the Life NPH website, if the cause of the NPH is known, the reported success rate for the shunting procedure can be as high as 80 percent. The success rate varies from 25 to 74 percent for NPH cases in which its cause is unknown. In general, the earlier hydrocephalus is diagnosed, the better the chance for successful treatment.
What happens if you get an infection in a ventriculoatrial shunt?
Infection of a ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt leads to a bloodstream infection and is more concerning than an infection of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Rarely, chronic infection can cause kidney damage or life-threatening damage to the lungs and heart.
What is an external ventricular drain (EVD) for hydrocephalus?
An External Ventricular Drain (EVD) is surgically placed to manage the hydrocephalus while the shunt is removed and the infection is being treated. The patient remains in the hospital while the infection is being treated with antibiotics, approximately 10-14 days. When the infection has cleared, the new shunt is implanted surgically.
