Shunt Malfunction Signs

Shunt infection

• redness and tenderness along the line of the shunt.
• a high temperature.
• headache.
• vomiting.
• neck stiffness.
• tummy pain if the shunt drains into your tummy.
• irritability or sleepiness in babies.

Obstruction is the most common cause of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) malfunction. Infection is the second most common cause of VPS malfunction, which is more common in children. Pseudocyst is a late complication of VPS, which may present as abdominal pain and a palpable mass.

• Headaches.
• Vomiting.
• Lethargy (sleepiness)
• Irritability.
• Swelling or redness along the shunt tract.
• Decreased school performance.
• Periods of confusion.
• Seizures.

A brain shunt can be lifesaving. But preventable complications can develop, leading to permanent brain damage or death.

All younger patients with a shunt should probably be encouraged to seek a neurosurgical check up at least every three years, ideally at a dedicated hydrocephalus follow up clinic.

VP shunts to not work forever. When the shunt stops working: The child can have another buildup of fluid in the brain. Another surgery is needed to fix it.

Overview. Many people with normal pressure hydrocephalus enjoy a normal life with the help of a shunt. Regular, ongoing checkups with the neurosurgeon will help ensure that your shunt is working correctly, your progress is on track, and you are free to keep living the way you want.

About the Shunt Operation The actual surgical procedure to implant a shunt typically requires about an hour in the operating room. Afterward, you will be carefully observed for 24 hours. Your stay in the hospital will generally be for two to four days total.

Once the shunt has been proven to be unnecessary, it can be removed – typically as an outpatient procedure. Careful long-term follow-up is necessary to evaluate for recurrence of hydrocephalus requiring shunt replacement.

In many cases, diagnostic imaging, such as CT scans or X-rays, is performed to rule in or rule out shunt dysfunction. These imaging tests expose patients to radiation, and many times these tests indicate that the shunt is in fact working properly.

Shunting is successful in reducing pressure in the brain in most people. VP shunts are likely to require replacement after several years, especially in small children. The average lifespan of an infant’s shunt is two years. Adults and children over the age of 2 may not need a shunt replacement for eight or more years.

Symptoms of a shunt malfunction may be obvious, redness over the shunt, headache, sleepiness, vomiting, or visual changes. Symptoms may also be subtle, change in behavior, change in school performance.

The most common symptoms of hydrocephalus include: Headache. Fatigue (feeling more tired or weak than usual), drowsiness (not able to stay awake or focus), or both. Nausea (feeling like you’re going to throw up) and vomiting (throwing up)

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other imaging scans Tell the MRI technologist you have a programmable VP shunt.

A functioning shunt tube may cause pleuritic pain or referred shoulder pain if the tube is trapped under the diaphragm. Infrequently, a patient may have abdominal pain in the setting of shunt infection.

Do not touch the valve on your head. 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.

Shunts may drain too little CSF, in which case the symptoms of hydrocephalus get worse. A diagnosis of hydrocephalus is not enough to “automatically” qualify for Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits under either the Social Security Disability (SSDI) program or under an employer-provided group disability plan (ERISA).

The mortality rate for hydrocephalus and associated therapy ranges from 0 to 3%. This rate is highly dependent on the duration of follow-up care. The shunt event-free survival is approximately 70% at 12 months and is nearly half that at 10 years, post-operatively.

Hydrocephalus is a condition of the brain where there is a pressure-induced deterioration of brain functions. It does not go away on its own and needs special treatment.

If left untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal. Early diagnosis and successful treatment improve the chance for a good recovery. With the benefits of surgery, rehabilitative therapies, and educational interventions, many people with hydrocephalus live relatively normal lives.