A Clinical Analysis of the Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt with Programmable Shunt Divice

ABSTRACT

CSF shunting procedures are widely employed in the treatment of hydrocephalus and other disturbances of the dynamics of CSF such as a rachnoid cyst and syrinx. The relative simplicity of this operation with respect to other neurosurgical procedures is matched by a high incidence of complications. Many kinds of shunt devices have been developed to reduce complications. Yet, this operation frequently requires surgical revision. Traditional shunts were primarily designed to manage hydrocephalus by regulating intracranial pressure. Those devices, in some circumstances, can cause to underdrain or overdrain CSF and may need a surgical revision to adjust the pressure Authors have treated 28 patients with the disturbaces of CSF dynamics using pressuread justable valve system (Codman-Medos p rogrammable Hakim valve system). Two patients had arachnoid cysts and the others had hydrocephalus with various etiologies. Subdural hygroma was developed in 5 patients and underdrainage was observed in 9 patients on CT scan. By adjusting the pressure, Authors achieved clinical improvements without a need for surgical revision. The optimum pressure was 97.4+17.4mmHO for the patients with hydrocephalus with various etiologies in adults. In conclusion, the incidence of shunt revision by using this shunt device for the treatment of hydrocephalus and arachnoid cysts was decreased.