AllRefer Health - Caring for your Well Being  

Home | About | FAQs | Contact Us

AllRefer Channels :: Yellow Pages | Reference | Health  

Surgeries & Procedures
Select & Go
 Diet & Nutrition
 Diseases & Conditions 
 Health News
 Injuries & Wounds
 Poisons & Overdoses
 Surgery & Procedures 
 Symptoms Guide
 Special Topics
 Tests & Exams
 Pictures & Images
 Medical Encyclopedia
Google
  Web health.allrefer.com   

You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Surgery & Procedures > Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview & Description

Indications

Expectations after Surgery

Convalescence & Recovery

Risks

Pictures & Images

Go To Main Page

Alternate Names : Shunt - Ventriculoperitoneal, VP Shunt

Definition

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt is surgery is performed to relieve intracranial pressure caused by hydrocephalus. The fluid is shunted from the ventricles of the brain into the abdominal cavity or in rare instances the pleural space in the chest.

Pictures & Images

Ventricles of the Brain
Ventricles of the Brain

Craniotomy for Cerebral Shunt
Craniotomy for Cerebral Shunt

     See all Pictures & Images
Overview & Description

This procedure is performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. A flap is cut in the scalp and a small hole is drilled in the skull. A small catheter is passed into a ventricle of the brain.

A pump (valve which controls flow of fluid) is attached to the catheter to keep the fluid away from the brain. Another catheter is attached to the pump and tunneled under the skin, behind the ear, down the neck and chest and into the peritoneal cavity (abdominal cavity).


<

^ Top

>


Jump to another section

Definition
Overview & Description
Indications
Expectations after Surgery
Convalescence & Recovery
Risks
Pictures & Images

Review Date : 8/10/2003
Reviewed By : Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D, MSc, Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

Main Page of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt







Featured Topics

Alzheimer's Disease

High Blood Pressure

Crohn's Disease

Impotence

Overactive Bladder


ADAM

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2003 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.
This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Copyright © 2009 AllRefer.com All Rights reserved.
Health Topics: A-Al Am-Az B C-Cj Ck-Cz D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Pl Pm-Pz Q R S-Sl Sm-Sz T U V W X Y Z 0-9
About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Editorial Policy | Advertising Policy | Accessibility | Terms of Use
Contact Us | Link to Us | User Satisfaction Survey | Healthopedia.com
Page Last Updated: 04 Jul, 2009