What is the typical treatment for hydrocephalus for pediatric patients?
Shunts for Treating Hydrocephalus The most common hydrocephalus treatment is a shunt, a small piece of silicone tubing placed surgically inside the body to bypass a blockage or otherwise create a better flow of cerebrospinal fluid. The shunt allows for fluid to flow through it in one direction.
Do neurologists treat hydrocephalus?
Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) and brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons) have experience in treating hydrocephalus and related conditions.
How do you treat a baby with hydrocephalus?
Surgery may be needed for some cases of hydrocephalus. Surgery usually involves placing a mechanical shunting device into the baby’s head to help drain the extra CSF from the brain and redirect the extra fluid to another part of the body to be absorbed. A common type of shunt is the ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Can hydrocephalus in babies go away?
Hydrocephalus is a condition of the brain where there is a pressure-induced deterioration of brain functions. It does not go away on its own and needs special treatment.
Where can a child with hydrocephalus be treated?
A child diagnosed with hydrocephalus should be treated by a specialist with advanced training and extensive experience in the disorder. The Weill Cornell Pediatric Brain and Spine Center offers the services of some of the top surgeons in the field:
Who are the best neurosurgeons for hydrocephalus?
Babacar Cisse, M.D., Ph.D., Leon Levy Research Fellow at the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, is an award-winning neurosurgeon with special expertise in brain and spinal tumors.
What kind of shunt do you need for progressive hydrocephalus?
Progressive hydrocephalus usually requires a ventricular shunt. Shunts typically connect the right lateral ventricle to the peritoneal cavity or, rarely, to the right atrium via a plastic tube with a one-way, pressure-relief valve.
Who are the pediatric neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins?
Pediatric Hydrocephalus Specialists. The pediatric neurosurgeons at Johns Hopkins are members of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN), a national group of neurosurgeons at pediatric hospitals working together to conduct research aimed at improving the lives of patients and families living with hydrocephalus.
What can Johns Hopkins do for Pediatric Hydrocephalus?
Pediatric Hydrocephalus Treatments. Johns Hopkins pediatric neurosurgeons have vast expertise in surgically managing hydrocephalus in infants and children, including shunts (small, flexible tubes) to drain the excess fluid and other procedures, including minimally invasive options.
Where to go for surgery for hydrocephalus in children?
If surgery is recommended for your child’s hydrocephalus, you will find a dedicated and compassionate environment for healing at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, which offers comprehensive care and support for the entire family as well as the individual child.
Can a baby be born with hydrocephalus?
An infant may be born with hydrocephalus due to a congenital condition or a child might acquire the problem later in life. Whatever the underlying cause of your child’s hydrocephalus, the experts at Johns Hopkins can help resolve it and address its risk to your child.
How is a shunt used to treat hydrocephalus?
Most often, hydrocephalus is treated surgically with the placement of a shunt to bypass the blockage that is causing the buildup, or to create a better flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).