title: Robert H. Pudenz (1911-1998) and Ventriculoatrial Shunt: Historical Perspective.
abstract: Robert H. Pudenz was a renowned neurosurgeon in North America in the 20th century, famous for his contributions in the evolution of the shunt valve and ventriculoatrial shunt surgery. With his innovative idea and help from Heyer, in 1955, he demonstrated that a venous catheter worked best when in the right atrium and that the slit valve should be located at the most distal portion of the shunt system to prevent retrograde filling and thrombosis. He also contributed to various experimental studies on the brain, especially the electrical response of different neural structures. This historical vignette focuses on the work of Robert Pudenz and the evolution of the ventriculoatrial shunt.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Subhas K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Konar
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Tanmoy K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Maiti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Shyamal C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Bir
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
authors.forename: Piyush
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalakoti
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. Electronic address: ananda@lsuhsc.edu.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanda
mesh_terms: D057785:Catheters; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000266:history*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000601:surgery; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009493:Neurosurgery / Q000266:history*; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000266:history*
keywords: Outcome; Robert Pudenz; Ventriculoatrial shunt