[marcelli]

My 21 year old son received his first ventriculoperitoneal shunt at 4 days old. He had a few revisions over the years, but it functioned quite well until last August. There was so much scar tissue in his abdomen that after 2 back to back revisions in August, we went to a programmable ventriculopleural shunt in October. It was reprogrammed in April, but he is still having a lot of headaches, and his NS is considering a switch to a ventriculoatrial shunt. I am not crazy about the whole "let's route it to his heart" thing, but I don't want him having headaches every time he laughs or coughs, either. Any thoughts on changing? Good/bad experiences? Higher risks associated with the VA shunt? Thanks! ~Marla