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Mechanical Shunt Complications

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Pediatric Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the intracranial cavity. Any obstruction in circulation and increased production or decreased absorption of CSF may result in hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus can be treated with either shunt implantation or endoscopic third ventriculostomy surgeries. Shunt systems are barium-labeled silicone tubes that also have valve system to control CSF flow from ventricular cavity into another body cavity where it can be absorbed. Hydrocephalus is a chronic disease; for that reason, most of the shunt patients will have their shunt systems throughout their lives. During this long time period, these patients may face shunt complications such as shunt infections, dynamic shunt complications, and mechanical shunt complications. In this chapter, we discussed mechanical shunt complications such as shunt obstruction, shunt fracture, shunt disconnection, shunt migration, and shunt misplacement. The patients with mechanical shunt complications may present with signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure, and there may be subcutaneous CSF accumulation along the shunt tract. Routine shunt series, abdominal ultrasonography, cranial and abdominal computerized tomography scans, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment include removal of the either effected part or the whole shunt system and implantation of new shunt system.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Acibadem University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

    Bahattin Tanrıkulu & M. Memet Özek

Authors
  1. Bahattin Tanrıkulu
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  2. M. Memet Özek
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Correspondence to M. Memet Özek .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Neurosurgery, Santobono Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppe Cinalli

  2. Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Acıbadem University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey

    M. Memet Ozek

  3. Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris, France

    Christian Sainte-Rose

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Tanrıkulu, B., Özek, M.M. (2018). Mechanical Shunt Complications. In: Cinalli, G., Ozek, M., Sainte-Rose, C. (eds) Pediatric Hydrocephalus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31889-9_75-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31889-9_75-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-31889-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-31889-9

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