Shunts 101?

[MNTim]

My neuro is considering a shunt for a possible CSF leak.  Can someone provide a quick tutorial?

Thanks,
Tim

[vickee]

Its just like having a permanent lumbar drain.  I had the L-P shunt placed.  Its placed on the lumbar region of your spine and drains the CSF into your peritoneal cavity.  The surgery was only an hour.  Haven't had any problems with CSF leaks since.  I wished they had done it earlier.  Good luck!

[MNTim]

Vickee,

Thanks for the quick response.  Glad to hear if it is needed that it is not a bad thing.  In the year with it any issues or limitations?  Is there maintance involved?  You are referring to a Ventricular peritonal shunt, correct?

Tim

[lori67]

The VP shunt is different - it's kinda like running a drain pipe from the ventricles of your brain into the abdominal cavity.  There won't be any maintenance that you'd be able to do yourself.  Sometimes, if it's an ongoing problem (which is unlikely in this case), the doctors may have to go in an unclog the drain pipe every few years or so.  The only maintenance you'd have to be concerned about is the care of the incision until it's healed, and that's just basic stuff, like keeping it clean and dry and maybe some bacitracin ointment.

Definitely ask your doctor to explain the procedure to you.

Lori

[MNTim]

Lori,

Thanks for clarifying.  I have many questions for him.

Tim

[vickee]

No limitations at all.  I was having so much problems with CSF leaks.  3 months in and out of the hospital for lumbar drains.  The Lumbar-Peritoneal shunt was a piece of cake considering what you have already been through.  I was back to work in 2 weeks after the surgery.  I wished they had done that earlier.  No limitations.  I'm back to doing things I love:  snowboarding, traveling, etc.  Definitely ask your MD some questions. 

[Mark241]

I did have a minor complication with my LP shunt, it was my fault though, tried to do to much to quick, and the catheter moved up over my liver. They revised it, and haven't had any issues since, that was Feb this year. Feel great now, no limitations.