How To Treat And Manage Congenital Hydrocephalus

Inserting A Shunt

Doctors can install a shunt system to immediately remove the pressure on the brain. Inserting a shunt is a surgery that involves an individual getting general anesthesia. Once they are unconscious, the surgeon will make a hole through the skull. The shunt's catheter will be placed in the optimal position to drain fluid, and it will send extra fluid to the chest or abdomen where the body can go ahead and reabsorb the fluid. Depending on a patient's needs, the shunt may have a valve that drains at a set rate or an adjustable valve that can drain more or less fluid as needed. It can take a little while to recover from this surgery because it is so intensive. Most patients need to spend a little time in the hospital, and they will need to take it easy for several weeks afterward. A shunt can be a great way to manage hydrocephalus, but since it is a serious surgery, some doctors might not recommend doing this for very small children.

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