VP shunts
 

Anyone know about them? Please. :)
Thank you!

Shunt help
 

Anyone know symptons for over drainaage of a VP shunt?

vp shunt not appearing on cat scan
 

Hi. I'm new to this forum, but am looking for help. Ten years ago I had a vp
shunt put in while I had surgery to remove a colloid cyst. Three years later the colloid cyst came back, but more in the memory zone. I also have dystonia, a neurolgical condition. My neurologist keeps asking me to consider having deep brain stimulation to help my condition.
Each year I have an mri to check on the status of the colloid cyst, as it is assosicated with sudden death. Its been pretty stable, but my memory function has definitely been impaired. A few weeks ago, my neurologist asked me to have a cat scan of the brain to send to the dps dr. I had it done, and delivered the scans to her. I went into the city friday and told her Ive been having headaches and odd aches/pains. I attributed the feelings to being under so much stress, as my dad passed away mid october, and my mom went into the hospital a few days after he died with congestive heart failure. She's home now, but is weak and has end stage heart failure.
So when I asked about the dbs dr and the cat scan, she indicated that the vp shunt didn't show on the scans. Like its not there! A few drs have seen the scan, and no one sees it. I even shared it with a good friend who is a radiologist an said no shunt shown. Everyone of my previous mri's indicate a vp shunt.
So now what? I went for xrays yesterday as per my neurologist instruction to try and locate the shunt. I have an mri appt of the brain for tuesday. Am I in any danger with a foreign object someone around my body? Maybe this is why I have been in pain. I want to call the neurosurgeon who put in the shunt tomorrow. He only sees patients on wednesday.. I just want to know if I am in any danger. Is anyone familiar with this? If so, please comment.
Thank you,
Andrea

I have had my V.P. shunt for 22yrs & it's broken.
 

Hello I was diagnosed with a sudo tumor cerebra, Hydrocephalus & a Chiari Malformation at the age of 12. They placed a V.P. shunt in then & for years I didn't have to worry about to much pressure on my brain. Even my headaches were a little less. Fast forward to now. I have been dealing with pain on a whole other level. The shunt is not a soft silicon like when it was placed, now it's more like a metal rod. I've seen 4 different Neurosurgeons & NONE will take it out. I'm in the hospital right now from my second fluid build up where my shunt is broken in my abdomen. I was sadly told today I will never be pain free or be able to be totally off pain meds. All 3 of my children were blessed to not be born with this medical condition but one of my nieces daughters was diagnosed with a Chiari Malf. If you have any questions please fill free to contact me on here.

You may find info/suggestions in the hydrocephalus or chiari forums. Generally docs will not take out a broken shunt. They can replace the broken part of the system or insert a new system. Old shunt systems can fragment and removal could introduce an infection. Have you requested icp monitoring, a shunt tap/lumbar puncture or other way to confirm if the shunt is functioning? Do you have a surgeon with a special interest in chiari?