hi Every one,


Hope all are doing well as this is my 1st post to this forum.Actually my is having hdrocephalus and it was treated by shunt when he was one 8 months .Because of hydrocephalus he is physically not so developped and he lost his hearing.When he was 7 to get cochlear implant to see his cochear nerves again one more operation was done and they made it BI-Shunt (like Y shape )to him.Now he is 10years.We didn't do cochlear.

He was normal till this time but from 1 month he is getting head ache and omitting some time.Went to NS 1st they suspected infection they gave antidodies for 15 days he was good but after one week again feeling same head ache and some time ovmiting also. This time also we consulted some NS (3 doctors) they are telling because of over drainage its happening.
My question is

1. Can we replace shunt as it is BI-Shunt operation(some doctors are telling its very risky any may happen)

2.What measures we have to take avoid over drainage in shunt?

3. How to avoid head ache.

Its very hard to see that my child is suffering with pain and we were not able to any thing.

some one can please give me advice.We appreciate your help.

Roopa -
My son is 14 and has had a shunt since he was 4 1/2. After having surgery to remove a brain tumor, he developed hydrocephalus, and a shunt was placed.

He had a shunt revision in 2010. The shunt was also relocated from a lumbar shunt to a venticuloperitoneal shunt. Recently (in February) he began experiencing headaches and stomach aches. He went through several non-invasive tests, and finally, his NS did surgery to explore the shunt. This was the beginning of May.

Through May and June, he had several surgeries - one surgery was to replace a catheter. He also had the shunt externalized to monitor the pressures of the shunt. The NS thought he had the information he needed, the shunt was internalized and we thought all would be well after that, but soon after the surgery, my son continued to have severe headaches and stomach aches.

Eventually, the shunt was externalized again and a lumbar shunt was placed as well, and externalized, to see what would work for him.

The headaches and stomachaches all but disappeared with the shunt externalized. Unfortunately, we were told by the NS that what my son experienced with the shunt externalized could not be mimicked exactly. But we hoped the severity of the headaches would lessen. The shunt was internalized, and also relocated. He still has a venticular shunt, but it now drains in the atrial region, rather than the peritoneal area.

That was about three weeks ago. My son is still experiencing severe headaches, and still has a stomachache.

Your question about the bi-shunt is confusing to me. Are you asking if a shunt can be revised to a bi-shunt? I recently read about the bi-shunt. Is your son experiencing uneven venticles?

To avoid overdrainage, a programmable valve can be placed. These types of valves can be readjusted to create a flow of CSF that works best for the patient.

There are many causes for shunt headaches. It can be related to the shunt. It can be due to overdraining or underdraining of CSF. It can be related to small ventricles (slit ventricle syndrome).

Some medications work for some patients who have shunt headaches. My son is taking topamax, but it is not really doing anything for the headaches.

Some patients find relief depending on whether they are laying down or standing upright. If this is the case for your son, then his headaches may be due to overdraining or underdraining.

I hope this helps. Good luck.

Hi,
My Brother's daughter has affected with hydrocephalus and operated with VP shunt placement. It has been one year she did not good with hearing. she has partial hearing like sensing high sounds like mobile rings and bike horns like that.

Do we need to go for cochlear implant? Is this suggestible with existing vp shunt?

Please help.

I am not a doctor I had a headache for 2 1/2 months in 2006, shunt was blocked, had surgery, no issues since, 4 revision, 1st in 28 years. One of the first people on the planet to have procedure originally performed in Jan. '70. If it truly is the shunt drugs are just a bandaid, they don't fix the issue.

I am not a doctor I had a headache for 2 1/2 months in 2006, shunt was blocked, had surgery, no issues since, 4 revision, 1st in 28 years. One of the first people on the planet to have procedure originally performed in Jan. '70. If it truly is the shunt drugs are just a bandaid, they don't fix the issue.