Hydrocephalus

===Procedures===
[[File:Khidmat Masy Hydrocephalus (19042957419).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Baby recovering from shunt surgery]]
Hydrocephalus treatment is surgical, creating a way for the excess fluid to drain away. In the short term, an [[external ventricular drain]] (EVD), also known as an extraventricular drain or ventriculostomy, provides relief. In the long term, some people will need any of various types of [[cerebral shunt]]. It involves the placement of a ventricular [[catheter]] (a tube made of [[silastic]]) into the cerebral ventricles to bypass the flow obstruction/malfunctioning arachnoidal granulations and drain the excess fluid into other body cavities, from where it can be resorbed. Most shunts drain the fluid into the [[peritoneum|peritoneal cavity]] ([[cerebral shunt|ventriculoperitoneal shunt]]), but alternative sites include the [[right atrium]] ([[cerebral shunt|ventriculoatrial shunt]]), [[pleura|pleural cavity]] ([[cerebral shunt|ventriculopleural shunt]]), and [[gall bladder|gallbladder]].
{{Further|topic=the non-invasive diagnostic medical device|ShuntCheck}}
A shunt system can also be placed in the lumbar space of the spine and have the CSF redirected to the peritoneal cavity ([[lumbar-peritoneal shunt]]).<ref name="pmid20508332">{{cite journal | vauthors = Yadav YR, Parihar V, Sinha M | title = Lumbar peritoneal shunt | journal = Neurology India | volume = 58 | issue = 2 | pages = 179–184 | year = 2010 | pmid = 20508332 | doi = 10.4103/0028-3886.63778 | doi-access = free }}</ref> An alternative treatment for obstructive hydrocephalus in selected people is the [[endoscopic third ventriculostomy]] (ETV), whereby a surgically created opening in the floor of the third ventricle allows the CSF to flow directly to the [[basal cisterns]], thereby shortcutting any obstruction, as in aqueductal stenosis. This may or may not be appropriate based on individual anatomy. For infants, ETV is sometimes combined with choroid plexus cauterization, which reduces the amount of cerebrospinal fluid produced by the brain. The technique, known as ETV/CPC, was pioneered in [[Uganda]] by neurosurgeon [[Benjamin Warf]] and is now in use in several U.S. hospitals.<ref>{{cite web |title=An American surgeon pioneers surgery for kids in Uganda that helps kids in the US |url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-27/american-surgeon-pioneers-surgery-kids-uganda-helps-kids-us |website=Public Radio International |access-date=2016-02-10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302012700/http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-27/american-surgeon-pioneers-surgery-kids-uganda-helps-kids-us |archive-date=2016-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Burton A | title = Infant hydrocephalus in Africa: spreading some good news | journal = The Lancet. Neurology | volume = 14 | issue = 8 | pages = 789–790 | date = August 2015 | pmid = 26091960 | doi = 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00138-6 | s2cid = 35920581 }}</ref> Hydrocephalus can be successfully treated by placing a drainage tube (shunt) between the brain ventricles and abdominal cavity. Some risk exists of [[infection]] being introduced into the brain through these shunts, as they must be replaced as the person grows.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Pople IK | title = Hydrocephalus and shunts: what the neurologist should know | journal = Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry | volume = 73 | issue = suppl 1 | pages = i17–i22 | date = September 2002 | pmid = 12185257 | doi = 10.1136/jnnp.73.suppl_1.i17 | doi-broken-date = 31 January 2024 | pmc = 1765598 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | vauthors = Engelhard III HH, Sahrakar K, Pang D | veditors = Talavera F |date=2022-03-03 |title=Neurosurgery for Hydrocephalus Treatment & Management: Approach Considerations, Medical Therapy, Surgical Therapy |url=https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/247387-treatment | journal = Medscape }}</ref>