Hydrocephalus and its treatment | Boston Children’s Hospital
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Learn more about the Hydrocephalus Program:
Using live illustrations, Benjamin Warf, MD, Neurosurgeon at Boston Children's Hospital, explains hydrocephalus and options for treating it, including an innovate operation he pioneered called endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV).
Hydrocephalus, a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, is a fairly common condition in children. As Dr. Warf explains in our Pediatric Playbook series, it is caused by a blockage of fluid movement out of the brain’s fluid spaces (ventricles). This can result from a tumor, brain hemorrhage, infection, or a congenital defect in the fluid passages.
Unless it’s treated, the buildup of fluid puts a pressure on the brain that can impair brain function and can even be life-threatening. The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is surgical placement of a shunt, a tube that drains the excess fluid and routes it into tubing in the child’s belly.
Because shunting often requires a number of operations to repair or replace the shunts as children grow, Dr. Warf has developed a surgical procedure that can avoid the need for shunts in many children. Called ETV, it passes an endoscope into the brain to make small opening in a membrane in the base of the ventricle. This bypassed the obstruction and allows the trapped fluid to escape.
For children who are good candidates for this operation, it can be a cure for hydrocephalus. For more information, call 617-355-6008 (international: +1-617-355-5209).
I am 19 years old and had Hydrocephalus at birth, my neurosurgeon placed a shunt. At the age of 9 the catheter was blocked, and had to be replaced. At the age of 10 I had a car accident, and the shunt broke, it had to be replaced with a magnetic shunt, which is the one I currently have. I’ve had no problems ever since, I still recall the horrible headaches, but thanks to my surgeon and the surgery, I’ve had zero problems ever since. And I hope to become a great neurosurgeon someday.
Leonel Cantú de Llano hii my daughter has this problm n recently she is suffering frm headache n strokes..doctrs r sayin ctscan report is norml thn y she is suffering frm headache n strokes like epilepsy..plzz tell me abt ur surgery wat u sayin was magnetic shunt..is tht really v safe
I had this shunt when I was 7 years old. I am now 54 years old and I have not needed any further surgery since. The only complication I have is that I developed epilepsy when I was 12. That is now very well controlled and I am thankful for medical science for developing this remarkable piece of technology
Steve Gibson Thank you so much for posting this!!
Steve Gibson I’ve had 3 shunts in 12 years and have developed epilepsy as well
I’ve had hydrocephalus, since I was 6 months old. My dad went to medical school. Which is how he found out. When my parents realized I had hydrocephalus, they rushed immediately to the hospital. Like he said, I did get a shunt. After that, my mom stopped working for 2 years. So, that she could take care of me. When I started school, my parents wanted to check if I had any mental disabilities. Unfortunately, I did. I have a language disorder to this day. To make matters worst, as you can tell, English is my first language, but I have to go to French school, because both of my parents went to French school. Which is a law to get more people to speak French. One more thing, if you have hydrocephalus, you can not go deep sea diving. It will create too much pressure inside your head and you could probably die. This suggestion was brought to you by Emily Kira.
Is that a proven fact in regards to deep sea diving? Any general links you could provide ?
Emily Kira omg thanks for the suggestion I also have hydrocephalus
Hi Musiclovers, In this context, we can’t provide advice on particular conditions or treatment plans. If you have questions, please contact your physician directly, or call 911 if you believe your child is experiencing a medical emergency. You can learn more about our hydrocephalus program and contact them using the link in the description. Best Wishes!
Are there relations (and of what nature/kind) between:
Hydrocephalus, Bulging Fontanelle, Encephalitis/Encephalopathy, Meningitis
?
Thank you,
Very informative. Can this type of procedure work on adults?
Best explanation yet!
Super explanation:)))
Thank you for this video! ?
thank u for the education
….the surgeries he might undrgo how much will it cost?
Very educative and well made video! Thank you very much. Best I’ve seen so far!
Good sir God bless you
Tell me location
Simple yet informative.
Thank you very much for the life you people at children’s have given me. I’m fifty two years old. Have had six operations. Have had two wonderful children. Work at a job a job I dearly love. I’m a machinest. Have had this shunt for thirty eight years. Just thank you all.
Great video. Would love to see more info on what types of hydrocephalus this would work for. I.e. communicating and non-communicating, obstructing, etc.
thank you so much. this has been beneficial!
Dear sir,
This video is so usefull for my 7.5 month old child.
Thankyou so much.
Very informative, thank you. And thank you all for your comments and stories.