Treatment
The Hydrocephalus Association helped to ease our fears and let us know that although the diagnosis w
Did You Know?
congenital hydrocephalus
a type of hydrocephalus that occurs before, during, or soon after birth, or later in life due to a medical condition that existed at birth
Treatment
Although hydrocephalus cannot be cured or prevented, effective treatments are available to help people with hydrocephalus live happy, productive, and fulfilling lives. The most effective treatment for hydrocephalus is the surgical placement of a tube called a shunt.
Shunts are used to draw excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) away from the brain and into another area of the body where it can be absorbed. Click below to learn more about the use of shunts to treat hydrocephalus.
What is a shunt? CODMAN® products for shunt treatment All about shunt surgery
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy A relatively new alternative surgical treatment is called an Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy or ETV. ETV is also sometimes called a “3V” or “third-vent.” ETV is performed by making a small hole in one of the ventricles in the brain where CSF is produced, so the CSF can flow more easily and be absorbed. It is usually used to treat obstructive or non-communicating hydrocephalus.
Drug Therapies Although there are currently no drugs for the treatment of hydrocephalus, some medications have been used to help alleviate certain symptoms associated to hydrocephalus. You should discuss this option with your physician.
Lumbar Puncture Another non-surgical treatment for hydrocephalus is lumbar puncture, a procedure used mostly for premature infants with hydrocephalus. Lumbar puncture involves insertion of a needle into the spinal cord to drain the excess CSF. This procedure cannot be used in people with non-communicating hydrocephalus. Click here to learn more about the different types of hydrocephalus.
