shunt what should i expect now?

[lgarcia7712]

8 days post decompression surgery. can not get CSF fliud under control following surgery. at this time, the nurses are drainibg approximately 5-20 ml of fluid an hour and im still in ICU. the pain is here but manageable however whenever the vavles for tge csf fluids are closed i get dibiliating headaches. my NS says she wants to do a procedural to add a shunt on Thursday. what is that? whats it fir, what should i expect?

[selmaS]

  Hi...sorry u r still in the hospital with this issue, and many do develop this issue post op...ICP...there is no reason or rhyme as to y the body either over produces CSF or it just does not absorb it  fast enuff...so a tube (shunt) is place to divert the excess fluid to an area where it can be absorbed.

I hope that helps, the link Rylansmom posted is an article on different types of shunts...they are for syrinx's, but work much the same.

We do have a few members with shunts, and I am sure one of them will post a comment too.

  Good luck, I pray u feel better soon

     "selma"

[Rylanesmom]

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/205805/Differnt-types-of-syrinxs-and-shunts--article-by-DrJJane-Jr--MD?personal_page_id=197028

[Rylanesmom]

I don't know enough to comment other than it will redirect the fluid.  It is n option to reduce pressure in my head for pseudo tumor.  I know Selma has talked about shunts I will go to her page and try to find it.  I am sorry your recovery is complicated by the csf flow. I will pray.