The surgery is recommended to patients with swelling, cysts, tumors, or inflammation in the brain due to excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid. Excess fluid occurs mainly due to

• Excess production of CSF 
• Inability of blood vessels to absorb the fluid
• Blockages that restrict the flow of the fluid

Common indications include visible increase in the size of head, frequent headaches and seizures, poor appetite, loss in memory and poor co-ordination between thoughts and actions.

The surgeon will instruct to

• Conduct imaging tests of the brain like CT Scan and MRI to determine the exact location of excess fluid
• Stop blood thinners, at least 10 days before the procedure
• Fast for 6 hours prior to the procedure

The procedure is performed under general anesthesia by an experienced neursurgeon, and generally takes around 90 minutes.

During the surgery, the surgeon will

• Put a small cut behind the ear and another in the belly, after administering the anasthesia.
• Drill a small hole in the skull and pass a catheter into a ventricle of the brain.
• Another catheter is placed under the skin behind the ear and is made to travel to the chest and abdomen.
• A pump (valve) which is attached to both catheters is placed behind the ear. 
• When the pressure in the skull increases, this pump will help automatically remove the fluid into the belly area.

After the procedure is complete, the patient may be required to stay in the hospital to upto a week. The doctor and his team closely monitors the patient's vitals.

The patient is taught how to take care of the shunt at home and how to prevent any infection from developing. 

In babies, the shunt has to be replaced after 2 years while in older adults, it has to be replaced after 8 years.

VP Shunt Surgery might have the following risks and complications:

• Leakage of the fluid under the skin
• Bowel perforation (holes in the intestines)
• Shunt blockage
• Bleeding, swelling or blood clot in the brain

​Malfunction of the shunt may cause fever, frequent headache, fatigue and infection.

If you have any additional questions, talk to our in-house doctors. Call 1800-1022-733 (toll free).