Frequently Asked Questions About Shunt Surgery
How Is Shunt Surgery Performed?
The shunt is placed surgically under general anesthesia. A small hole is opened in the skull and the tip of the shunt is placed into the chamber inside the brain where the cerebrospinal fluid is located. Then, by creating a tunnel under the skin of the head, neck, and abdomen, the other end of the shunt is directed into the heart or abdominal cavity, where this fluid can be easily absorbed.
How Many Days Will I Stay in the Hospital After Shunt Surgery?
Although the length of the hospital stay varies according to the patient’s recovery status, the patient is observed in the hospital for three days after surgery.
Can the Shunt Be Noticed from the Outside?
Since the shunt is under the skin, it can only be noticed from the outside in babies. In children and adults, the tube under the skin can be felt during manual examination.
When Will the Existing Complaints Improve After the Shunt Is Inserted?
Generally, the patient’s complaints improve after some time. However, if permanent damage has occurred in the brain tissue, some functions may not improve. The most important reason why functions such as vision and intelligence may not improve is delayed treatment.
How Is a Patient with a Shunt Followed Up?
These patients need to be followed for a long time in terms of whether the shunt is working properly. A significant number of patients treated for hydrocephalus can continue their normal lives. The shunt may need to be changed in cases of malfunction and infection. For this reason, patients who undergo shunt surgery are examined once a month during the first three months, and then once every six months. The brain’s dependence on the shunt system may continue for many years. In most patients, the need for a shunt continues for life. If there is no problem in most patients, removal of the shunt is not recommended.
Can a Patient with a Shunt Have X-Rays, Tomography, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)?
Having X-rays and tomography does not damage the shunt system. For magnetic resonance examination, the shunt type must be suitable. If there is a shunt whose pressure setting can be adjusted externally and is affected by the magnetic field, your doctor should be consulted before the magnetic resonance examination. If an adjustable shunt has been placed, the shunt setting must be adjusted again by the doctor after the scan.
What Should a Patient with a Shunt Pay Attention To?
Problems related to the shunt can develop very quickly, sometimes within hours. In any suspicious situation, it is important to contact the neurosurgery center closest to where you live and/or the doctor who performed the surgery. Therefore, regular and frequent examinations should be attended in order to prevent shunt complications. If there is; redness and tenderness at the surgical site and along the shunt line, restlessness in the patient, nausea, vomiting, headache, double vision, fever, abdominal pain, seizures, or recurrence of preoperative complaints, a doctor must definitely be consulted. Because if problems are not noticed and corrected early, serious consequences that may even lead to death can occur.
