title: Assessment of CSF shunts by Doppler ultrasound.
abstract: Doppler ultrasound was used to detect flow through 160 C.S.F. shunt systems, 94 without suspected blockage, 62 with suspected blockage. An accuracy of 87% was achieved and we found this test helpful in clinical management in a significant number of cases. The test can distinguish between blockage of proximal and distal catheters and in certain situations can indicate infection of the distal catheter. Follow-up is continuing to determine the reliability of this technique in deciding whether asymptomatic patients are valve-dependent or not. The test is simple to learn and noninvasive.
mesh_terms: D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D014465:Ultrasonics / Q000295:instrumentation; D014463:Ultrasonography