Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
Collapsed Ventricles
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Collapsed Ventricles
by Cath278, Sep 18, 2009 08:53AM
Hi.I have IIH/PTC and had a VP shunt fitted in Dec last. It is working properly just not well enought.I still have an opening pressure of 32 and papilloedema bilaterally. I was to have a second Vp shunt fitted in the near future but it seems my ventricles have " collapsed" or closed.Can anyone explain what this actually means and the long term prognosis? At the moment I have been discharged to my local Dr, for pain managment? Any insight would be very much appreciated! Cath278
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Sep 20, 2009 07:16PM
, Sep 20, 2009 07:16PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history and review your imaging, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information, though this is a neurosurgical topic somewhat beyond my area of expertise (neurology).
I am not entirely sure by what is meant by collapsed ventricles, but one possibility is what is often referred to as slit ventricle syndrome. This is a syndrome described initially as being characterized by small (thin) ventricles on imaging, in patients with persistent headaches, in the setting of a normally functioning shunt. However, different definitions exist, and this is a controversial neurosurgical topic, and differs somewhat in children compared to adults. In general, if the diagnosis is made, conservative management, with treatment of the headache and other symptoms, is often employed. Sometimes, other surgical techniques such as lumbar-peritoneal shunting and 3rd ventriculostomy are employed. If slit ventricles occur in the setting of a malfunctioning shunt, then shunt revision is often indicated.
Continued follow-up with your neurosurgeon is indicated; understanding the implications of the findings on your imaging is important.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history and review your imaging, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information, though this is a neurosurgical topic somewhat beyond my area of expertise (neurology).
I am not entirely sure by what is meant by collapsed ventricles, but one possibility is what is often referred to as slit ventricle syndrome. This is a syndrome described initially as being characterized by small (thin) ventricles on imaging, in patients with persistent headaches, in the setting of a normally functioning shunt. However, different definitions exist, and this is a controversial neurosurgical topic, and differs somewhat in children compared to adults. In general, if the diagnosis is made, conservative management, with treatment of the headache and other symptoms, is often employed. Sometimes, other surgical techniques such as lumbar-peritoneal shunting and 3rd ventriculostomy are employed. If slit ventricles occur in the setting of a malfunctioning shunt, then shunt revision is often indicated.
Continued follow-up with your neurosurgeon is indicated; understanding the implications of the findings on your imaging is important.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Once again, thank you for taking the time to answer a difficult to explain question.It is much appreciated. Cath278.