Can you live a normal life with a shunt?

Can you live a normal life with a shunt?

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.

Is shunt surgery safe?

Unlike most surgical procedures, in which the risks are highest during the operation itself, most of the common problems associated with shunting can and do occur at a later time. The most common complications with shunting are obstruction, infection, and overdrainage of cerebrospinal fluid.

Can you outgrow hydrocephalus?

Though the majority of these babies will eventually need the traditional shunt when they grow older, many will never need another intervention. “Now,” Ahn says, “we can treat these babies so that they can outgrow their hydrocephalus and never need a shunt at all, which is a tremendous victory.”

How do you check if VP shunt is working?

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.

What are the signs of a shunt infection?

The symptoms of a shunt infection may include:

• 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.

Why does my shunt hurt?

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.

How are shunts placed in the brain?

A brain shunt is a narrow piece of tubing that is inserted into the brain in the fluid-filled ventricle. The tubing is then passed under the skin into another area of the body, most often into the abdomen. Occasionally, the shunt tubing can be placed into one of the chambers of the heart or the lining of the lungs.

Can a person with hydrocephalus drive?

Hydrocephalus typically affects visual acuity, coordination, judgment, and concentration, all of the skills which are necessary to drive. Just learning how to coordinate between controlling the steering wheel and applying the accelerator or brake can be a daunting task when you have poor motor skills.

Does hydrocephalus run in families?

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (say: hi-drosef-uh-lus; or NPH for short) is a rare, but sometimes treatable, cause of dementia. It mainly affects people older than 60. It does not run in families.

What is the survival rate of hydrocephalus in adults?

Survival in untreated hydrocephalus is poor. Approximately, 50% of the affected patients die before three years of age and approximately 80% die before reaching adulthood. Treatment markedly improves the outcome for hydrocephalus not associated with tumors, with 89% and 95% survival in two case studies.

Can hydrocephalus cause coma?

being sick – this may be worse in the morning. sleepiness – can progress to a coma. changes in your mental state, such as confusion. blurred vision or double vision.