When does shunt replacement errors cause further harm to the brain?
When does shunt replacement errors cause further harm to the brain?
Whether a shunt fails or becomes infected, it is critical that a doctor diagnose and treat the problem immediately. If a doctor does not treat the infection or replace the failed or infected shunt, patients may suffer brain damage.
How old was I when I had a VP shunt installed?
I am now 73 years old. On April 24, 2007, at age 67, I had a programmable ventricular peritoneal ( VP) shunt inserted in my brain at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, because I had adult onset idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, also known as iNPH.
Why are there so many shunt revisions in hydrocephalus patients?
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures and is necessary to treat most forms of hydrocephalus. Unfortunately, complications related to VPS placement are common, and multiple shunt revisions are almost expected throughout a patient’s lifetime.
What are the common problems with VP shunts?
Shunt obstruction and infection continue to be common problems with VP shunts, resulting in recurrent hospital admissions for revisions and replacements, amounting to billions in medical costs per year [ 9 ].
Whether a shunt fails or becomes infected, it is critical that a doctor diagnose and treat the problem immediately. If a doctor does not treat the infection or replace the failed or infected shunt, patients may suffer brain damage.
I am now 73 years old. On April 24, 2007, at age 67, I had a programmable ventricular peritoneal ( VP) shunt inserted in my brain at St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, because I had adult onset idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, also known as iNPH.
When do you need a shunt revision for hydrocephalus?
Typically, shunt malfunction is suspected when one or more of the symptoms of hydrocephalus observed prior to shunting return. When complications do occur, further testing is required and you may need to undergo a shunt revision, which is an operation to replace the section of the shunt that is no longer working.
How often do Shunts fail in pediatric patients?
In fact, only 30 percent of the annual 40,000 hydrocephalus operations in our country are a patient’s first surgery. For pediatric patients, an estimated 50 percent of shunts fail within the first two years and require additional surgeries, according to the Hydrocephalus Association.