title: Using individualized opening pressure to determine the optimal setting of an adjustable proGAV shunt in treatment of hydrocephalus in infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to describe the authors' experiences with the adjustable gravitational proGAV shunt system in treating infants' hydrocephalus.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proGAV was implanted in 29 infants (11 boys and 18 girls, median age 9 months) with hydrocephalus of various origins between January 2010 and June 2014. The opening pressure was chosen based on the intraventricular pressure which was measured during operation, and a gravitational unit with a fixed opening pressure (15 cm H2O) was selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Regular clinical follow up ranged from 6 to 36 months, with a mean follow-up time of 15.7 ± 7.9 months. Five of these patients (17.2%) underwent shunt revision because of malfunction, including two infections (6.9%), two shunt exposed (6.9%), and one proximal catheter occlusion (3.4%). For readjustment in 10 infants, the opening pressure was changed at least once during the follow-up period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proGAV is efficacious in the treatment of hydrocephalus in infants. This individual selection of the opening pressures makes it probable that a better match of chosen opening pressure and actual hydraulic requirements of the patient might occur.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang City, 110004, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xinxing
authors.forename: Diao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hongyu
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yunhui
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000379:methods*