Can I live a normal life with a VP shunt?
Overview. Many people with normal pressure hydrocephalus enjoy a normal life with the help of a shunt. Regular, ongoing checkups with the neurosurgeon will help ensure that your shunt is working correctly, your progress is on track, and you are free to keep living the way you want.
How long do people with VP shunts live?
The mortality rate for hydrocephalus and associated therapy ranges from 0 to 3%. This rate is highly dependent on the duration of follow-up care. The shunt event-free survival is approximately 70% at 12 months and is nearly half that at 10 years, post-operatively.
Can you live a long life with hydrocephalus?
What is the prognosis? If left untreated, hydrocephalus can be fatal. Early diagnosis and successful treatment improve the chance for a good recovery. With the benefits of surgery, rehabilitative therapies, and educational interventions, many people with hydrocephalus live relatively normal lives.
What can you not do with a VP shunt?
Do not touch the valve on your head. It is okay for you to lie on the side of your head with the shunt. For 6 weeks, do not do any activity that may cause you to hit your head. You will probably be able to return to work in less than 1 week.
Can you drink alcohol with a VP shunt?
The doctor may recommend: stopping drinking alcohol, as this may affect surgery and recovery. stopping taking vitamin E, as it may cause bleeding.
Does a VP shunt stay in forever?
VP shunts do not work forever. When the shunt stops working: The child can have another buildup of fluid in the brain. Another surgery is needed to fix it.
What is the lifespan of an adult with hydrocephalus?
Approximately, 50% of the affected patients die before three years of age and approximately 80% die before reaching adulthood. Treatment markedly improves the outcome for hydrocephalus not associated with tumors, with 89% and 95% survival in two case studies.
Can you drive with a shunt?
Can I drive after having the operation? No, the current DVLA guidance is that you must not drive after a ventricular shunt or third ventriculostomy operation.
Can you feel a VP shunt?
You won’t be able to see the catheter because it will be under your skin. However, you may be able to feel the shunt catheter along your neck. Once all the parts of the shunt are connected, it will start draining the excess CSF as needed to reduce the pressure in your brain.
How does a shunt treat normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)?
How is normal pressure hydrocephalus treated? A commonly used treatment for NPH is surgery to place a tube, called a shunt, into the brain to drain the excess fluid . The shunt is usually inserted into a ventricle in the brain and then passed under your skin from your head through your neck and chest to your abdomen.
What are the symptoms of a possible VP shunt malfunction?
According to the Hydrocephalus Association, symptoms of VP shunt malfunction mainly including: fever. irritability. headaches. a change in personality and redness. inflammation along the shunt’s path. vomiting. fatigue.
What to know about ventriculoperitoneal shunt?
About Your Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Surgery About Your Surgery. A VP shunt is used to drain extra cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from your brain. Before Your Surgery. The information in this section will help you get ready for your surgery. When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider. Call your healthcare provider if you have signs and symptoms of a VP shunt infection.
What are possible complications of hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus complications include brain damage, seizures, infection, nerve damage and impaired growth. Many of the complications, like nerve damage, seizure and impaired growth, arise from pressure placed on parts of the brain by the excess fluid.