Hydrocephalus is a disease that occurs in the human brain. When excess cerebrospinal fluid or CSF collects in the ventricles of the brain, the situation is called Hydrocephalus.

2. AN OVERVIEW - HYDROCEPHALUS
Hydrocephalus is a disease that occurs in the human brain.
When excess cerebrospinal fluid or CSF collects in the
ventricles of the brain, the situation is called Hydrocephalus.
Cerebrospinal fluid cushions your brain and saves it from
injury inside the skull. The nutrients needed by your brain are
delivered by this fluid. CSF also takes away waste products.
Normally, this fluid flows through the said ventricles to the
brain base. The spinal cord and brain are then bathed by the
fluid before it's reabsorbed into the blood.

3. IMAGE : HYDROCEPHALUS

4. TYPES OF HYDROCEPHALUS
Congenital hydrocephalus : Which is present at birth.
Congenital hydrocephalus may be caused by physical problems
with how CSF flows or is made or absorbed, by infections or
trauma during fetal development, or by teratogens. It may be
linked with other birth defects that affect the spine, especially
open neural tube defects.
Acquired hydrocephalus: Which develops at the time of
birth or later. It can be caused by infections such as meningitis,
bleeding, injury, or a tumor.

5. Normal-pressure hydrocephalus: Which usually develops
in people who are age 55 or older. It is a potentially treatable
cause of dementia. This type of hydrocephalus often occurs
after head trauma, infections, and bleeding within the brain.
Ex-vacuo hydrocephalus: Which occurs when there is
damage to the brain caused by stroke or traumatic injury. This
type of hydrocephalus may not be a health danger for some
people, in which case treatment is not needed.

6. HYDROCEPHALUS : SIGNS &
SYMPTOMS
Eyes that appear to gaze downward;
Irritability;
Seizures;
Separated sutures;
Sleepiness;
Vomiting.
Brief, shrill, high-pitched cry;
Changes in personality, memory, or the ability to reason or think;
Changes in facial appearance and eye spacing;
Loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence);
Loss of coordination and trouble walking;
Muscle spasticity (spasm);

7. AVAILABLE TREATMENT
Hydrocephalus are primarily treated by ventriculoperitoneal
shunting. When the normal flow of the brain is disrupted and
the fluid starts collecting in the ventricles, it creates harmful
pressure on the brain's tissues. It can damage the brain. This
deadly situation is treated through the hydrocephalus shunt
surgery. During this surgery, doctors surgically place VP
shunts inside one of the ventricles of the brain to redirect the
flow of the fluid, away from the brain and to bring back the
normal flow and absorption of CSF.

8. The placement of the VP shunt is performed under general
anesthesia. The patients going under the surgery don't
experience pain. It takes around 90 minutes to finish the entire
procedure.
One needs to talk to the medical care team about the
restrictions on preoperative food and drink. Adult and older
children should fast for at least 8 hours prior to surgery. Infants
and toddlers may have to stop having baby formula and solid
foods 6 hours prior to surgery, but they can usually drink water
until 4 hours prior to the scheduled surgery. But, in all these
circumstances, one needs to follow the instructions given by
the surgical team.

9. Normally, it takes three to four days to recover from a VP
shunt placement. However, they can leave the hospital after a
week's time.

10. For More Detail & Consultation
Please Visit
www.cnsneurosurgery.com.au