It can be controlled by the surgical insertion of a shunt (a long, flexible tube with a one way valve that drains excess fluid to an area in the body where it can be absorbed).
Who can have Hydrocephalus?
Anyone can develop hydrocephalus throughout their life. Babies may be born with hydrocephalus or can develop it after birth as a result of congenital defect, children, teenagers and middle-aged adults can develop acquired hydrocephalus due to a stroke, tumor growth, meningitis, brain injury or other similar factors. Seniors can develop adult onset hydrocephalus and can take on two different forms, high intracranial pressure or normal pressure hydrocephalus.
What are the symptoms of Hydrocephalus?
How is Hydrocephalus treated?
There are many different types of shunts but the most common ones are:
- Ventro-peritoneal (VP) : The most commonly used shunt which diverts the fluid into the abdominal cavity, where it is reabsorbed by the membrane lining the stomach and intestines.
- Ventriculo-atrial (VA) : This shunt has the catheter in a vein leading to the right atrium of the heart which carries the CSF from the ventricles into the bloodstream.
- Lumbar-peritoneal (LP) : This shunt drains from the bottom of the spine into the peritoneal cavity.
A shunt usually only consists of three parts:
- The Ventricular catheter , which is a small tube that leads from one of the ventricles, through a region of the brain where it will least affect the individual’s natural abilities.
- The Valve is a device that controls how CSF flows throughout the shunt, often including a reservoir set against the skull, under the skin.
- Distal catheter is a long thin, flexible tube that is attached to the valve and placed under the skin.
It is important to recognize when the shunt is malfunctioning or is experiencing a blockage or infection.
Shunt blockage may be caused by the blocking of tissue, blood cells or bacteria growths. It could also be blocked if parts of the shunt separate or if the position of the shunt changes.
- Obstruction of any sort will produce signs and symptoms of increased pressure in the head. Partial obstruction could result in occasional headaches, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, listlessness and decreased mental function.
Infection usually happens due to bacteria found normally on the skin, and occurs in 8 to 12% of all shunt surgeries. The shunt may get infected up to six months after surgery. Infections of the shunt can be life threatening and must be treated right away to reduce the risk of brain damage or death.
Symptoms to look out for in a proximal catheter-end infection:
Symptoms to look out for in a peritoneal catheter-end infection:
If any of these symptoms are occurring, you must seek medical attention immediately. Shunt infections are treated through surgically removing the infected shunt, the placement of a temporary external shunt, antibiotics to heal the infection and the surgical placement of a new shunt.