The collapsed ventricle: management and prevention.
Acute obstruction of a shunt may occur when the ventricular space becomes slitlike. Four patients with collapsed ventricles were treated by adding a higher pressure valve to the system. The ventricles enlarged and the patients became asymptomatic. Twelve children who had been shunted in the neonatal period had a higher pressure valve added as an elective procedure to prevent ventricular collapse. There were no episodes of shunt obstruction in the subsequent seven to 38 months.
D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000601:surgery*; D014695:Cerebral Ventriculography; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed