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intracranial shunts
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A shunt is a device used to reduce intracranial pressure by draining off CSF from a dilated ventricular system.
Shunt components:
- ventricular catheter - inserted into the lateral ventricle through the occipital horn so as the tip lies at the level of the foramen of Munro
- subcutaneous reservoir and one-way valve - to permit aspiration of CSF for analysis and CSF outflow
- distal catheter - inserted through the internal jugular vein into the right atrium - ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt; into the peritoneal cavity - ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt
- alternatively, lumboperitoneal shunt - catheter origin inserted into the lumbar theca; distal site in the peritoneal cavity.
Aqueduct stenosis may be treated by a shunt from the lateral ventricle into the cisterna magna - Torkildsen's procedure.
Last reviewed 01/2018
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