Cerebral shunt

kenshunt

In cases of hydrocephalus (a birth defect), a plastic tube called a shunt is used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and carry it to other parts of the body. This tube goes from the affected area of the brain, connects to a one-way valve which sits outside the skull, but beneath the skin, somewhere behind the ear. It then travels down the neck, and into either the abdominal cavity (most common), the pleural cavity (surrounding the lungs) (alternative), or into the atrium of the heart (quite rare). Enough tubing is left in the area it drains to, so that it can uncoil as the child grows.

Although a shunt generally works well, it may stop working if it disconnects, becomes blocked, or it is outgrown. If this happens the cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate again and a number of physical symptoms will develop. These symptoms may include: listlessness, headaches, irritability, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, migraines, seizures, a change in personality, weakness in the arms or legs, excessive head growth (seen infants, children under age 2), strabismus, and double vision. Signs of an infected shunt will be similar to those of a blocked shunt, but they will also have a fever and an elevated white blood cell count. If either of these are suspected, medical attention is needed immediately.

The shunt failure rate is also relatively high and it is not uncommon for patients to have multiple shunt revisions within their lifetime. By 2-3 years of age, approximately half of shunts that have been inserted have failed and been replaced.

The diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid buildup is complex and requires expertise. This happens by neuroimaging studies: ultrasonography in the prenatal period (before birth) and in infancy, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older children


I just put this out here for people to read if they like

in_hiding79

That is another reason not to have children.......how awful!! :(

Ms. Haiku

I had a heart shunt. When I was 21 months doctors cut my back open and took a vein or artery or something from my right arm and put it in there to drain fluids from my heart. Although I'm a righty my left arm is stronger. My back looks like I've been attacked by a shark.

Doctors obviously take lessons in interpretive art before they cut me up

My mom said the shunt worked really well. I think it's pretty common procedure for kids expected to have open heart surgery when they are 5 or so.

I don't remember that at all. When I was five I was scratching what I thought was a mosquito bite on my side, but it was actually a scar from that procedure.

kenshunt

some people have asked about my name on here, and i just put this on here to clear that i wasn't joking when i explained about it a few months ago, that i indeed have a shunt and it saved my life.

Ms. Haiku

kenshunt wrote:

some people have asked about my name on here, and i just put this on here to clear that i wasn't joking when i explained about it a few months ago, that i indeed have a shunt and it saved my life.

Gotcha! Yep, sounds like it saved your life. Three cheers for you!

Brain of J.Lo

in_hiding79 wrote:

That is another reason not to have children.......

Ms. Haiku

in_hiding79 wrote:

That is another reason not to have children.......how awful!! :(

Depends how a person handles hospital situations. If a person can't handle stress then they shouldn't have children no matter what.

[On a side note: I don't accept parents opting for procedures that demean the child in order to add convenience to the parents' lives. I'm not a parent, but as a patient I know, believe me, we are demeaned enough.]

My mom's a rock in these types of situations. Totally there every step of the way, and I never thought she regretted having me.

A parent has to be strong knowing that his/her child is going through stuff like that. A parent has to be there for the child. When I woke up in ICU right after my second open heart surgery, I looked to my left and my mom was staring straight at me. One of the best moments of my life, oddly enough.

A parent also has to be educated on the process. Do research, find the best doctors, ask questions. Is this necessary, is that necessary, what are possible side effects? A child's right is that the parent would care enough to want to know. Again, my mom rocked in those situations. Incredible role model that's for sure.

kenshunt

Ms. Haiku wrote:

Depends how a person handles hospital situations. If a person can't handle stress then they shouldn't have children no matter what.

[On a side note: I don't accept parents opting for procedures that demean the child in order to add convenience to the parents' lives. I'm not a parent, but as a patient I know, believe me, we are demeaned enough.]

My mom's a rock in these types of situations. Totally there every step of the way, and I never thought she regretted having me.

A parent has to be strong knowing that his/her child is going through stuff like that. A parent has to be there for the child. When I woke up in ICU right after my second open heart surgery, I looked to my left and my mom was staring straight at me. One of the best moments of my life, oddly enough.

A parent also has to be educated on the process. Do research, find the best doctors, ask questions. Is this necessary, is that necessary, what are possible side effects? A child's right is that the parent would care enough to want to know. Again, my mom rocked in those situations. Incredible role model that's for sure.

I had to have another shunt surgery at the age of 7 and i still remeber my mom so happy as i woke up, but thankfully since the age of 7 i haven't had to have anymore operations and haven't had any real problems and im 29 now

elmer

kenshunt wrote:

In cases of hydrocephalus (a birth defect), a plastic tube called a shunt is used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and carry it to other parts of the body. This tube goes from the affected area of the brain, connects to a one-way valve which sits outside the skull, but beneath the skin, somewhere behind the ear. It then travels down the neck, and into either the abdominal cavity (most common), the pleural cavity (surrounding the lungs) (alternative), or into the atrium of the heart (quite rare). Enough tubing is left in the area it drains to, so that it can uncoil as the child grows.

Although a shunt generally works well, it may stop working if it disconnects, becomes blocked, or it is outgrown. If this happens the cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate again and a number of physical symptoms will develop. These symptoms may include: listlessness, headaches, irritability, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, migraines, seizures, a change in personality, weakness in the arms or legs, excessive head growth (seen infants, children under age 2), strabismus, and double vision. Signs of an infected shunt will be similar to those of a blocked shunt, but they will also have a fever and an elevated white blood cell count. If either of these are suspected, medical attention is needed immediately.

The shunt failure rate is also relatively high and it is not uncommon for patients to have multiple shunt revisions within their lifetime. By 2-3 years of age, approximately half of shunts that have been inserted have failed and been replaced.

The diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid buildup is complex and requires expertise. This happens by neuroimaging studies: ultrasonography in the prenatal period (before birth) and in infancy, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older children


I just put this out here for people to read if they like

I have a cousin who has a shunt in his brain, been a problem from birth, very nearly died. I know he has had it replaced a few times already and at intervals throughout his life will need to again, very likely its exactly as you have descibed. He is 11yrs now, leads a relatively normal life but cannot play football or undertake any activity that could involve his head. There seem to regular visits to specialist hospital units and other probs, my aunt has to rub cream over him every night before he goes to bed though that could be exma(fuck it, wrong spelling I know). strange but his 9yr old brother has ADD and is on medication and his 7yr sister is to soon have surgery to remove a cyst from one of her glands. their really lovely good-natured kids though, the only ones I can recall ever liking.

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

I had to have another shunt surgery at the age of 7 and i still remeber my mom so happy as i woke up, but thankfully since the age of 7 i haven't had to have anymore operations and haven't had any real problems and im 29 now

Good that such things exist.
Lord knows, those Leafs need all the fans they can get!

Ms. Haiku

kenshunt wrote:

I had to have another shunt surgery at the age of 7 and i still remeber my mom so happy as i woke up, but thankfully since the age of 7 i haven't had to have anymore operations and haven't had any real problems and im 29 now

You rock! So does your mom

bostonlou

kenshunt: it's amazing what medicine can do... and I know I thought you were joking months ago about the shunt and i made an inappropriate comment... I apologize again for that

i truly thought your name was a play on the mike hunt joke... anyway... best wishes

TrixieCat

I thought that about his name too!
Glad to hear it worked out.
My dad just had one put in about 3 mos ago. It was terrifying but he is much better.

kenshunt

elmer wrote:

I have a cousin who has a shunt in his brain, been a problem from birth, very nearly died. I know he has had it replaced a few times already and at intervals throughout his life will need to again, very likely its exactly as you have descibed. He is 11yrs now, leads a relatively normal life but cannot play football or undertake any activity that could involve his head. There seem to regular visits to specialist hospital units and other probs, my aunt has to rub cream over him every night before he goes to bed though that could be exma(fuck it, wrong spelling I know). strange but his 9yr old brother has ADD and is on medication and his 7yr sister is to soon have surgery to remove a cyst from one of her glands. their really lovely good-natured kids though, the only ones I can recall ever liking.

Yeah i had my first operation when i wasn't even a year old, then the second at 7 and have been fortunate not to have anymore since.

kenshunt

Rygar wrote:

Good that such things exist.
Lord knows, those Leafs need all the fans they can get!

Im thankful for being a Leafs fan, now if they could make the playoffs

kenshunt

bostonlou wrote:

so no one ever should have children because they might not be perfect?

you're really not that fucked in the head are you?




kenshunt: it's amazing what medicine can do... and I know I thought you were joking months ago about the shunt and i made an inappropriate comment... I apologize again for that

i truly thought your name was a play on the mike hunt joke... anyway... best wishes

Thanks, and it can get back to normal and i can say how much of a better sport hockey is compared to basketball and baseball and u should give the bruins another chance:)

Rygar

kenshunt wrote:

u should give the bruins another chance:)

Whoa whoa whoa whoa, let's not go saying things we can't take back, agreed??

Brain of J.Lo

kenshunt wrote:

In cases of hydrocephalus (a birth defect), a plastic tube called a shunt is used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and carry it to other parts of the body. This tube goes from the affected area of the brain, connects to a one-way valve which sits outside the skull, but beneath the skin, somewhere behind the ear. It then travels down the neck, and into either the abdominal cavity (most common), the pleural cavity (surrounding the lungs) (alternative), or into the atrium of the heart (quite rare). Enough tubing is left in the area it drains to, so that it can uncoil as the child grows.

Although a shunt generally works well, it may stop working if it disconnects, becomes blocked, or it is outgrown. If this happens the cerebrospinal fluid will begin to accumulate again and a number of physical symptoms will develop. These symptoms may include: listlessness, headaches, irritability, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, migraines, seizures, a change in personality, weakness in the arms or legs, excessive head growth (seen infants, children under age 2), strabismus, and double vision. Signs of an infected shunt will be similar to those of a blocked shunt, but they will also have a fever and an elevated white blood cell count. If either of these are suspected, medical attention is needed immediately.

The shunt failure rate is also relatively high and it is not uncommon for patients to have multiple shunt revisions within their lifetime. By 2-3 years of age, approximately half of shunts that have been inserted have failed and been replaced.

The diagnosis of cerebrospinal fluid buildup is complex and requires expertise. This happens by neuroimaging studies: ultrasonography in the prenatal period (before birth) and in infancy, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in older children


I just put this out here for people to read if they like

This is very interesting!

It's absolutely amazing that things like this exist.

bostonlou

kenshunt wrote:

Thanks, and it can get back to normal and i can say how much of a better sport hockey is compared to basketball and baseball and u should give the bruins another chance:)

shunt or not

when you say stupid things I have to call you out on it

libragirl

ugh...I didn't need to see this. :(.

Ms. Haiku

libragirl wrote:

ugh...I didn't need to see this. :(.

Sometimes I assume that everyone has had a hospital experience, and I'm just preaching to the choir.

If you really think of it, you've read some ultra-cool stories in this thread. People who have had medical issues through modern medicine, and their own will, are doing really well! Also, you're reading of family members etc who go beyond seeing the disease within a patient and see the person they unconditionally love. I see this as a very cool thread, myself. And, you're learning about some medical procedures.