VP Shunt Restrictions

Question

Just a quick question, with a brief introduction. My 29 yr old husband had an epidermoid tumor removed from his brain and brain stem 6 weeks ago( it was a big one, 5.5x4.2x1.2cm, encompassing most nerves from the third nerve to the 11th, with the 6th nerve actually passing directly through the tumor). He just received a VP shunt, and I was wondering what are the restrictions after one? like what can he do with his life? what can he not do? He DID NOT have hydrocephalus, per say. The fluid was accumulating on the outside of his skull. there was nothing wrong with his ventricles, just fluid seeping through a pin hole from his operation, and gathering under his skin behind his ear. any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

DrSharma · Answer

Hi there. Your husband must avoid certain strenuous activities like straining at stools, which would mean avoiding being constipated, chronic cough, laughing hard, sudden head and neck jerking etc. Be very careful to avoid contact with any person wit upper respiratory infection or any other cold, flu, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal infection, any skin abscesses in the vicinity of abdomen to protect the shunt getting infection from contiguous spread or hematogenous route. Consult your neurosurgeon if you have any further questions. Take care and all the best.

shay_nicole · Answer

Thank you so much for your input, he will be left in my care in just a few days, and the doctors we have been with have been quite vague. Also, if possible, could you let me know some of the long term things to be careful about? My husband is very physical, at his place of employment, and at home. He is in the military, and has a very active life style. he travels by air frequently as well. Is there anything we need to be careful about with the life style that he leads?

Juntis · Answer

Shay,

My wife does have hydrocephalus, and has had a vp shunt since just after birth with only one revision at 7 (she's 29 now). 

I am not a doctor, but am responding because I find it difficult to get specific information on the web about some activities and living with a shunt, so helping you is nice. I suggest you read the consensus statement by the Hydrocephalus Association on physical activity. http://www.spinabifidasupport.com/whocanplay.htm

Even if your husband does not have hydrocephalus it shut put some concerns at bay regarding physical activity in general and shunts. The more I hear from other people, the more it seems that there are a lot of overly cautious concerns regarding physical activity and shunts, which is what made the consensus statement incredibly important. 

On a personal note, my wife grew up very active (soccer, skiing, running, yoga, backpacking, horse vaulting, etc). As an adult she has taken up rock climbing, cross-training, and marathon running. She flys frequently (some people seem concerned about this) and has had no problems. This is just her and I know everyone is different, but so far we have yet to see any real restrictions. The only thing we haven't been able to find specific data on that we've looked for is in regard to strenuous weight training. 

I hope this helps.