Hydrocephalus

What is Hydrocephalus?

Hydrocephalus is an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain. The fluid is often under increased pressure and can compress and damage the brain. This is an abnormal increase in the amount of cerebrospinal fluid within the cranial cavity that is accompanied by an expansion of the cerebral ventricles, enlargement of the skull and especially the forehead and atrophy of the brain.

Causes of Hydrocephalus

Congenital brain defects
Haemorrhage, either into the ventricles or the subarachnoid space
Infection of the central nervous system (syphilis, herpes, meningitis, encephalitis, or mumps)
Tumor

Symptoms of Hydrocephalus

Headache
Nausea and vomiting, especially in the morning
Lethargy
Disturbances in walking (gait)
Double vision
Subtle difficulties in learning and memory
Delay in children achieving developmental milestones

Hydrocephalus Treatment

It is commonly used to treat hydrocephalus, the swelling of the brain due to excess buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If left unchecked, the cerebral spinal fluid can build up leading to an increase in intracranial pressure (ICP) which can lead to an intracranial hematoma, cerebral edema, crushed brain tissue or herniation. The cerebral shunt can be used to alleviate or prevent these problems in patients who suffer from hydrocephalus or other related diseases. Shunts can come in a variety of forms but all of them consist of a pump or drain connected to a long catheter, the end of which is usually placed in the peritoneal cavity. The main differences between shunts are usually in the materials used to construct them, the types of pumps used, and whether the pump is programmable or not.