Overdrainage phenomena in shunt treated hydrocephalus.
In addition to the high rate of shunt complications due to obstruction and infection there is a considerable number of undesirable side effects caused by excessive drainage of CSF. Four hundred shunt treated patients are analyzed for overdrainage signs: acute decompression symptoms produced by upward shifting of the brain stem, low pressure headaches (mostly transient), and microcephaly and head deformities like scaphocephaly in infants. Skull X-ray changes reflect adjustment to reduced intracranial content. Slit ventricles and a marked intolerance to minimal pressure rises may be quite troublesome. Subdural haematomas are only exceptionally space-occupying; in most instances they are space-filling. Causes, incidence, management, and prevention are discussed.
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006408:Hematoma, Subdural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed