Can you outgrow a shunt

Your surgeon will see your child in a follow-up clinic visit about six weeks after you go home. The appointment may be made for you when your child is discharged. If not, call the neurosurgery clinic to make an appointment yourself.

Any medical questions you may have can be answered by your surgeon. Be sure to write down your questions before you meet the surgeon. Other questions can be answered by your nurse or by a Nurse Practitioner. Your child needs medical attention right away if you see any signs or symptoms of a shunt problem. If the shunt is not working, the pressure will return to the brain. Signs that the shunt is not working are listed above under "Signs of a shunt problem. If your child has any of these symptoms, call or your local emergency services right away.

Shunt malfunctions or infections that are not treated promptly and appropriately can lead to coma and possibly death. For more information, please see Shunt infections and Hydrocephalus and treatment. Skip to main content.

It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Listen Focus. Key points If your child's shunt is not working properly, it will cause the CSF to build up in the brain. Your child will need an operation to replace all or part of the shunt. If you see any signs that the shunt is not working properly or is infected, call or emergency services right away.

Your child needs medical attention. What is a shunt revision? When a shunt is not working properly, it is because of one of the following reasons: Particles or tissue may enter the shunt and block the flow of cerebral spinal fluid CSF. The shunt may become disconnected or broken, so that the CSF no longer drains into the right place. Your child may have outgrown the shunt. Over-drainage: the shunt is draining more CSF than it should. Under-drainage: the shunt is not draining enough CSF.

Shunt infection. Signs and symptoms. Signs of a shunt problem When a shunt is working normally, the CSF drains into the abdomen belly , the lining around the lungs pleural space in the chest, or the heart, depending on the type of shunt. Diagnosing shunt problems at the hospital If your doctor thinks the shunt is not working, your child may need one or more tests.

An ultrasound can only be used if the "soft spot" is still open. Doctors may order a "shunt series", which is a series of X-ray pictures that can show if the shunt is disconnected or broken. A CSF flow study may also be ordered. This test uses a dye to show the flow of CSF through the shunt.

The test can reveal blockage or a leak. Excessive pressure on the brain from hydrocephalus can permanently impact the brain in infants or children, which may affect their physical and cognitive development.

It is important for the speech and language pathologist to determine the type of disorder and level of severity in order to help plan for the rehabilitation needs of your child, and to assist the rehab team in understanding how best to communicate with the child. The treatment program is tailor-made to fit the communicative needs of each child.

Family education about communication changes associated with conditions caused by hydrocephalus is also an integral part of our programs. For children with developmental or physical impairments due to hydrocephalus, occupational therapists—medical professionals who help people participate in the activities they want and need to do in their daily lives—can help with the functions of daily living, fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, reasoning skills, and communication.

Therapeutic activities are chosen on an individual basis in order to help children meet their goals and ultimately improve their quality of life. Our occupational therapists assist children in adapting to their environment by developing strategies and techniques to help them successfully perform different tasks.

Occupational therapists can also recommend assistive equipment that can help the child to develop independence if needed, such as a wheelchair or walker. Our licensed clinical social workers are dedicated to helping families of children with hydrocephalus cope with the stress of this chronic condition.

They can provide psychological and social assessments of children with the condition. Our social workers can also connect families with a variety of community resources, such as counseling to address living with a chronic condition, planning transportation needs for medical care, or coordinating family-care dynamics, such as day-to-day care for the child while he or she recovers.

One end of the upstream catheter is in a ventricle. The other end of the downstream catheter is in the peritoneal pair-et-NEE-ul cavity. This is the space inside the belly where the stomach and the bowels sit. The shunt is all inside the body, under the skin. The valve opens when the pressure in the brain gets too high. This lets fluid drain from the brain into the peritoneal space.

From there, the extra fluid is absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered out in the kidneys. Then the body can pee out the extra fluid.

Your child cannot eat or drink for several hours before the surgery. Tell the doctor about any medicines your child takes. Some might need to be stopped before the surgery. Also let the doctor know if your child has any allergies. Your child will stay in the hospital after the surgery, so bring toiletries and other items that will help make the stay more comfortable. A surgeon will do the VP shunt placement in an operating room.

Your child will get anesthesia to sleep during the surgery and not feel pain. A small area of hair might be shaved, then the surgeon will make small incisions cuts in the scalp.