Shunt Failure in 5 Years Old Kid

[ah_en]

Hi there, my nephew, a 5 years old kid, was suffer from brain tumor surgery since a month ago. He is now suffer for Hydrocephalus.

He is still in the ICU. He has gone through 7 surgery since admitted to hospital on last month, to remove the brain tumor, and to put in the shunt. The shunt was failed at the first operation, hence doctor decided to remove it out at the 2nd operation. After the 2nd operation, he was suffer from Hydrocephalus, later on he has gone through few more surgery to drain the water out from the brain. Last week, doctor has try to put in the shunt for second time, but 3 days later, the shunting failed to drain the water out again. The neurology doctor explained that he could not find the reason why the shunting was failed. The entire family is very worried for him and pray hard for him. Is there any help we can get from here? Any experience to share with? Any info that we can refer to? Any doctor to recommend? Please help us to save his life. The kid has been suffered too much from the surgery.

[ah_en]

Thanks for the suggestions, will discuss with the doctor later on. Thanks a lot!

[Dr_Veena]

Hi,
     How are you? Hydrocephalus is excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within brain cavities (Ventricles). CSF has many important functions viz. Nourishment, cushion like protection of the nervous tissue and to carry waste products away. Hydrocephalus can result from infection, bleeding (hemorrhage) head trauma, tumors and cysts. If obstruction is found on CT scan due to a tumor or cyst, it can be excised by a neurosurgeon to re-establish the CSF pathway. In other situations the most effective treatment is insertion of a shunt.

The shunt is a hollow silicone tube, placed into the ventricular system, diverting the CSF flow to the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen (VP shunt). If abdominal cavity is unable to absorb the fluid due to some disease viz. TB or cyst, the shunt can be placed via the jugular vein to reach the right atrium of heart (VA shunt). Shunts can also be placed in the pleural (chest) cavity. In communicating hydrocephalus (malabsorption of CSF but no blockage) a Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt can also be performed on order children where the tube goes from the spinal cavity to abdomen. In selected cases as judged by the neurosurgeon, endoscopic procedures may be used to create alternative CSF pathways(s) within the brain (e.g. third ventriculostomy, aqueductal stenting) and shunt may not be necessary.

I would suggest that you discuss with your doctor regarding the possible causes for blockage like any cyst or tumor and consider placing a new shunt in a different pathway.
Best.