Left shows:
Hydrocephalus water fluid build-up in the brain.
Right shows:
Normal no water fluid build up
Placing a shunt to re-direct the water fluid buildup to drain
Placement of the shunt from the ventricle in the brain and draining into the stomach
The brain controls the body. It is made
up of 4 main ventricles. Inside the brain is Cerebrospinal fluid
(CSF).This clear fluid protects the brain and travels through these ventricles.
Hydrocephalus occurs when there is too much fluid build up in the brain and the
ventricles become blocked and are unable to drain properly.
Fluid build up causes pressure inside the head. This increased pressure
can injure the brain and cause brain damage.
Approximately 1 in 1000 people will get hydrocephalus. Mostly children
get it or are born with it. 1 in 500 children will get it.
If hydrocephalus is not treated...50-60 percent will die. The rest will
suffer intellectual and physical problems.
SYMPTOMS:
headaches, clumsiness, vision problems, tiredness, sleepiness, difficulty in
concentrating, vomiting, seizures, memory loss, confusion.
DETECTION:
CatScan, or MRI (x-rays and pictures of the inside of the brain are taken) will
show build up of fluid.
TREATMENT:
Shunt (plastic tubing device) used to redirect the fluid build up in the
ventricles to a different area in the body.
Shunts often have problems and do not always work properly and they will BLOCK.
Sometimes they drain too much fluid or not enough and may cause
infections and bleeding inside the brain. A shunt may have to be
replaced from time to time.
SIDE EFFECTS:
vision problems, seizures, memory loss, forgetfulness, confusion,
headaches,vomiting, loss of balance, change in speech,learning disabilities,
change in personality, affects the ability to think, write,walk, and perform
daily tasks, and it can leave you totally helpless and unable to care for
yourself.