What is VP Shunt Surgery?

A VP shunt is a medical device that is placed under the skin to help treat hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which there is too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. This can cause the brain to swell and put pressure on the skull.

VP stands for ventriculoperitoneal. The shunt has two parts: a tube that goes from the ventricles in the brain to the abdomen, and a valve that controls how much CSF flows through the tube.

Surgery to place a VP shunt is usually done when other treatments, such as using medications or inserting a drainage tube (called an EVD or external ventricular drain), have not worked.

Fluid accumulation occurs due majorly due to –

• Blockage in the brain arteries preventing CSF to flow throughout the brain
• Excessive production of CSF
• Poor absorption of fluid by the blood vessels

Patients commonly feel following symptoms when there is fluid build up:

What happens during the procedure?

• The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and takes around one and a half to two hours.
• Before starting the procedure, a particular area of the patient’s head is shaved and sterilized. The surgeon then makes a U shaped incision behind the ear and another small one in the stomach.
• Now with the help of a small hole that is made by drilling in the brain, a catheter is inserted that reaches the ventricle of the brain. These days, it is done mostly through an endoscope that lets the surgeon see the internal area of the ventricle.
• A second catheter is then placed under the skin at the back of the ear . It is then passed down through the neck and chest till the stomach area.
• Now a fluid pump (or valve) is put below the skin behind the ear. This valve is then connected with both the catheters .
• As soon as there is extra pressure in the brain due to fluid buildup, the valve lets excessive fluid get drained in the peritoneal cavity of the stomach through the catheter. Thus helping in lowering the intracranial pressure.
• After the completion of this procedure, the patient is shifted to the recovery room for observation and then to the ward area from where he/she gets discharged.

Recovery

Patients are asked to lie flat for initial 24 hours after the procedure and then with the help of a medical attendant they are made to sit. Depending upon the condition and speed of recovery, he or she may get discharged in 3 to 4 days.

Medical and nursing team are there for close monitoring and they give antibiotics, pain killers and IV fluid during the post op stay in the hospital.

At the time of discharge, patient and attendant are given special instructions regarding taking care of shunt at home and preventing it from infection.

Risks involved in VP Shunting Surgery

Common risks associated with this procedure include –

Though these complications are rare but need to be avoided with the expert advice of the surgical team and regular follow up.

The treating doctor needs to be contacted immediately in case of following symptoms:

Malfunction of VP Shunt

Please note that VP shunt can malfunction or get clogged over a period of time. And if the shunt doesn’t work properly, it would be unable to drain the excess fluid out of the brain and thus lead to increased pressure on the brain again.

Therefore, it is essential to understand what are the indicative signs and symptoms of shunt malfunctioning:

• Headache that would aggravate and keep getting worse with time
• Irritability
• Feeling dizzy and sleepy all the time
• Sudden onset of vomiting
• Vision impairment
• Swelling and pain in the skin area through which shunt has been placed
• Urinary incontinence
• Return of symptoms that existed before the VP shunting procedure

In all the above cases, the treating doctor needs to be immediately informed. He will examine the patient and get some investigations done to decide further treatment lines in such a situation.

In case of children, the shunt will require to be changed time and again. With the growing age and body, a child will need longer shunt.

VP Shunt Surgery in India

If you are in need of VP Shunt Surgery and are looking for affordable options, India may be the country for you. The average cost of VP Shunt Surgery in India is $5,500, which is a fraction of the cost in developed countries like the United States, where the same surgery would cost upwards of $25,000.

There are many reputable hospitals in India VP Shunt Surgery, such as Apollo Hospital and Fortis Hospital. The surgeons at these hospitals are highly skilled and experienced, and they use the latest technology and equipment to ensure that their patients receive the best possible care.

VP Shunt surgery is a fairly common procedure, so you should not have any trouble finding a hospital that offers it. You can even have the surgery done in a city like Mumbai or Delhi, which have world-class medical facilities.