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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Shunt surgery
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.
Shunt surgery
by ebean1, Oct 30, 2009 08:56AM
Is their an alternative to this surgery for a patient who has had an aneurysm?
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Oct 31, 2009 09:58AM
, Oct 31, 2009 09:58AM
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, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
I am not sure I understand the question you pose above; shunt surgeries are not used to treat aneurysms per se to my knowledge. If an aneurysm were to bleed in the brain, and if this leads to buildup of fluid in the brain (what is called hydrocephalus), then a drain is necessary in order to relieve the fluid pressure in the brain. When there is an obstruction to the flow of the fluid in the brain, the most commonly used option is a drain, in the emergency setting (critical care setting), few other options are available. Longer-term treatment of hydrocephalus does involving shunting.
Treatment of aneurysms includes clipping, a surgical procedure in which the aneurysm is literally clipped off, and coiling, a procedure in which the blood vessels in the brain are reached through a catheter in the groin, and a material is used to plug up the aneurysm. Each procedure has its specific indications, risks, and benefits.
Continued discussion of treatment options with your physicians is recommended.
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, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.
I am not sure I understand the question you pose above; shunt surgeries are not used to treat aneurysms per se to my knowledge. If an aneurysm were to bleed in the brain, and if this leads to buildup of fluid in the brain (what is called hydrocephalus), then a drain is necessary in order to relieve the fluid pressure in the brain. When there is an obstruction to the flow of the fluid in the brain, the most commonly used option is a drain, in the emergency setting (critical care setting), few other options are available. Longer-term treatment of hydrocephalus does involving shunting.
Treatment of aneurysms includes clipping, a surgical procedure in which the aneurysm is literally clipped off, and coiling, a procedure in which the blood vessels in the brain are reached through a catheter in the groin, and a material is used to plug up the aneurysm. Each procedure has its specific indications, risks, and benefits.
Continued discussion of treatment options with your physicians is recommended.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Member Comments (2)
by Katra23, Nov 24, 2009 12:23AM
When we learned our 11 year old had brain tumor and hydrocephalus her surgeon told us we can do a shunt or he can basically create a shunt by drilling in her skull. The surgrey took about 45 min. It worked out well. She has a maybe a 1/2 inch scar from it and it seems to be working well. I do know that not all hosiptals know about this because one evening she got sick we took her to the ER. I told them what she had but I forgot what it was called so i was there drawing them pictures till I got hold of the her doctors than told the ER doctor what I was talking about they still didn't know what it was. They never heard of it. She had her surgrey done At Johns HoPKINS.
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