ABSTRACT
The use of shunting for hydrocephalus has a long history of improvements made through basic science, clinical innovations and biomedical engineering. Neuroshunting has dramatically changed the outlook of patients with hydrocephalus, with many of these patients now having normal life expectancies and maintaining intelligence within normal limits. The use of shunts, however, has created many unique problems of shunt dependence with frequent shunt revisions and adjustments being a fundamental part of the lives of hydrocephalic patients. However shunt dependent patients, despite the improvement in mortality and intellectual functioning, are prone to multiple difficulties related to shunt dependency including periodic malfunction. Just as our present level of knowledge is due to a combination of science and clinical observations, future progress in treating hydrocephalus will be realized through continued research into mechanisms of neurological fluid-dynamics and neuro-peristalsis, as well as advances in the use of high resolution imaging such as brain-dedicated Neuro SPECT technology.