Shunts
From Holoprosencephaly
What is a Shunt?
Shunts are used for the treatment of Hydrocephalus. Click here to learn more about hydrocephalus.
A shunt is a tube or device that is implanted in the body divert excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to another place in the body.
Shunt Systems
Shunt systems are the best and most effective treatment for hydrocephalus. It consists of a flexible tube that placed into the child's CSF system. The shunt diverts the flow of CSF from the ventricles into another region of the body, most often the abdominal cavity or a chamber of the heart called the atrium.
Shunt systems come in various models yet all have functional components, including catheters and flow-control mechanism (one-way valve).
The shunt tube is made by a soft and pliable plastic (usually silastic) which is about 1/8" in diameter is well-tolereated by our body tissues.
The parts of a shunt are named according to where they are placed in the body.
The ventricular catheter is the portion of the tube which is inserted into the ventricles. The peritoneal catheter is the portion of the tube which passes the CSF into the pertioneal cavity.
If the tube is placed into the right atrium of the heart it is called the atrial catheter. The valve regulates the pressure of the CSF flow and prevents backward flow of spinal fluid toward the ventricles.
Valves are designed to operate at low, medium, or high pressure. Depending on the particular nature of your child's hydrocephalus, your neurosurgeon will select an appropriate valve pressure to accommodate your child's needs. Some valve models have an on/off control device.
Many shunt systems also have a flexible flushing chamber (reservoir) which may be housed within the same unit as the valve or may be a separate unit along the shunt, depending on the design of the shunt system. This chamber serves several important purposes. It permits your physician to remove samples of CSF from the shunt with a needle and syringe, and to inject the chamber for testing shunt function and for treatment. The chamber also allows the shunt to be "flushed" or pumped. Flushing the chamber sometimes allows your doctor to determine whether the shunt is functioning properly.
If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to discuss your concerns with your child's doctor(s).
For information about dealing with other potential health problems, treatments and medications, please visit our Miscellaneous Health Information category.
Click here to read what specialists have to say about caring for children with Holoprosencephaly: Doctor Q&A
