title: Shunt lengthening: a descriptive review.
abstract: Shunt lengthening is a neurosurgical procedure unique to the pediatric patient. It is considered to be a minor operation to the professional, but means another hospitalization to parents of children who have often times already had many hospitalizations. A review of 27 children who underwent routine shunt lengthening revealed that none developed the most common complication of infection following this operation. After questioning parents about their need for information on shunt lengthening, a fact sheet explaining the procedure was written. As a result of our findings and need to be more cost efficient while safely caring for patients, we have been successful in changing nursing management of these children.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Greif
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology*; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation