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The most common treatments for hydrocephalus are shunts and endoscopic third ventriculostomies. Highly experienced in both procedures, neurosurgeons at Children's Hospital can evaluate which will suit the particular circumstances of your child's case.
A shunt is simply a catheter, installed under the skin, running from one of the ventricles or from the space where the spinal cord meets the brain to a place where the fluid can be absorbed. Shunts can drain to the peritoneal cavity (the space in the belly in-between organs) to the heart or to the chest (pleural) cavity, depending on the age and physiology of the patient. A one-way valve on the catheter, keeps body fluids from contaminating the cerebrospinal fluid and only allows drainage when intracranial pressure reaches a preset minimum. Many shunts placed today can also be adjusted externally using a magnetic device to change the pressure limit without the need for additional surgery.
One common cause of hydrocephalus is blocked connection between the third and fourth ventricles of the brain. In endoscopic ventriculostomy, the neurosurgeon uses a tiny camera and a miniature surgical instrument to pierce the membrane that separates the cavities. Usually, CSF begins draining immediately and often, no further intervention is needed. The surgery takes about an hour and has a very short recovery period.
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