Are CSF Shunts for Hydrocephalus Hassle-free?
Hydrocephalus is a common condition, affecting approximately 2% of US population, resulting in huge expenditure on management of such cases. The presentation of hydrocephalus differs among different age groups. In children, the signs and symptoms of hydrocephalus may include increasing circumference of head, vomiting, inability to feed and splaying of cranial sutures along with patent fontanelles. In older children, symptoms may range from headaches and change in vision to papilledema. Management of the hydrocephalus may include treatment of underlying medical or surgical condition or diversion of cerebrospinal fluid flow. Diversion of CSF may be temporary or permanent. Temporary options include ventriculosubgaleal shunt, CSF access port and external ventricular drainage whereas, permanent options may be placement of shunt or ventriculostomy via endoscopy. CSF shunt placement might be the definitive treatment; however, it comes with numerous complications if not monitored vigilantly, hence the failure rate of shunt is high. The complications may include hemorrhage, tension pneumocephalus, and abnormal placement of shunt, peritonitis, abdominal abscess etcetera. Sudden closure of shunts may present with signs and symptoms of raised intracranial pressure. Various modalities may be employed for monitoring shunts. CT and MRI are widely used both pre-operatively and post-operatively. Careful observations should be ensured to timely pick the newly developing complications and treat them accordingly. Source Management of Hydrocephalus in Children: Anatomic Imaging Appearances of CSF Shunts and Their Complications https://www.ajronline.org/doi/full/10.2214/AJR.20.22888 Image via https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Hydrocephalus-with-increased-head-circumference-in-a-3-month-old-child_fig4_234071019
mechanical shunting that would redirect CSF to another body cavity and therefore help in absorption of extra CSF. Most commonly used shunt is ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
