During a cerebral shunt procedure 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. The accumulation of excess fluid around the brain can cause
an increase in intracranial pressure. The excess pressure can cause
a decrease in blood flow to the brain leading to brain damage.
Review Date: 11/22/2010
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland
School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed
Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
