title: Failure of cerebrospinal fluid shunts: part I: Obstruction and mechanical failure.
abstract: Ventricular shunts are commonly employed to treat children with hydrocephalus. Complications from shunts are common and can present with a variety of signs and symptoms. This pair of reviews discusses the common findings in patients with shunt malfunction, including physical examination and imaging findings. Part I of the series discusses obstruction and mechanical failure of shunts; Part II discusses overdrainage, loculation, and abdominal complications of shunts. An understanding of the presentation and etiology of shunt dysfunction is critical for neurologists and pediatricians who often are the first to evaluate and triage these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84113, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Browd
authors.forename: Brian T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Ragel
authors.forename: Oren N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Gottfried
authors.forename: John R W
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kestle
mesh_terms: D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications