Hydrocephalus

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Hydrocephalus is a condition caused by too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside your brain. CSF is fluid made by your body that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. CSF is constantly being made and absorbed by your body. It moves through spaces inside your brain called ventricles before draining out and being absorbed into your bloodstream. When CSF cannot drain properly, the fluid pressure may cause the ventricles to swell. The excess fluid presses against your brain and often creates problems with thinking, vision, and movement. You may get headaches and develop dizziness, nausea (upset stomach), and vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Hydrocephalus can be congenital (born with) or acquired (occurs later in life). The cause may be unknown or you may have a blockage from a tumor or cyst. CSF may also be blocked if you bleed in your brain or have an infection, such as meningitis. Caregivers often use surgery to drain excess CSF. Treatment may resolve your symptoms, such as headaches and dizziness. Treatment may resolve the pressure in your brain and improve your ability to think clearly and function better in your daily life.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

RISKS:

• The symptoms you have from excess CSF will not get better without medical treatment. Any headaches, vision problems, or seizures may become worse, and happen more often. An urgent need to urinate can progress to incontinence (leaking urine). Your ability to think clearly may get worse. You can die from hydrocephalus when there is too much pressure on the brain for too long. With treatment, most of these symptoms can improve.
  
  
• After a shunt placement, the shunt valve will need adjustments at first. Headaches and other hydrocephalus symptoms may return. You may feel sleepy or confused. You may not be able to move one side of your body. Tell your caregivers about any of these symptoms right away so they can adjust your shunt valve and check for other problems. Your shunt can also become blocked or stop working. You will need another surgery to fix a blocked shunt. You may also be at risk for an infection after surgery. An infection can be life-threatening. Talk with your caregiver about any questions or concerns you have about hydrocephalus and its treatment.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent:

A consent form is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

IV:

An IV (intravenous) is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Steroids: Steroid medicine is given to decrease inflammation (swelling). Steroids also can help lower the amount of CSF your body makes.
  
  
• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to help treat or prevent an infection caused by bacteria.

Tests:

Ask your caregiver about these or any other tests you may need:

• Blood tests: You may need blood taken to check for infections. The blood can be taken from a blood vessel in your hand, arm, or the bend in your elbow. You may need to have blood drawn more than once.
  
  
• Lumbar puncture. This may also be called spinal tap. Caregivers put a needle into your back to collect CSF from the spinal space (the area around your spine). The CSF may be tested for infection. Caregivers may check the CSF pressure. Lumbar punctures can also help caregivers plan surgery.
  
  
• Lumbar drainage. Caregivers use a needle to insert a catheter (tube) into the spinal space for this test. The catheter drains CSF for up to 5 days. This test is done to see if surgery to drain CSF fluid would resolve your signs and symptoms.
  
  
• Continuous intracranial pressure monitoring. This is also called ICP monitoring. An ICP monitor is a small tube that is put through the skull (the bones of your head) and into the head. The tubing is connected to a TV-type screen. Caregivers use the ICP monitor to keep an ongoing measurement of the pressure inside your skull.
  
  
• Cisternography. Caregivers inject a tracer (radioactive substance) into your spinal space to watch how CSF moves through your brain and spinal canal for 1 to 3 days.

Treatment options:

Ask your caregiver for more information these and other treatment options for hydrocephalus:

• Surgery. Your caregivers will work with you to choose a surgery that helps the excess CSF drain. Common surgery options include:
  
  
  • Tumor or cyst removal. Your caregiver may remove a cyst or tumor from your brain to relieve a blockage.
    
    
  • Shunt placement. This surgery places a shunt (catheter) inside a brain ventricle or the spinal space to drain CSF. A plastic tube is attached to the catheter. The tube drains into your chest or abdomen (belly), where your body absorbs the excess CSF. A valve on the tube helps slow down or speed up the CSF drainage.
    
    
  • Ventriculostomy. Your caregiver uses a tool called an endoscope to make a small hole in a brain ventricle. CSF drains through the hole to be absorbed by the body.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Hydrocephalus (Inpatient Care)