Shunt 4 life?

[Jess&Madi]

Just wondering if it is ever possible/common to have a shunt removed?

[misty]

You could have a shunt removed. I don't use mine anymore, so it is in there doing nothing, but my doctors say there's no point in having more surgery to remove it. It isn't doing any harm by just being there, so we have decided to leave it put. I don't want any unnecessary surgery.

[LillyPie]

I am wondering how many adults here either had a shunt or have a shunt they no longer need?? I wonder if that is common with individuals who have SB as they get older??

[mumtotwo]

why do you not need the shunt anymore? does hdro...(i can't spell it) go away??

[misty]

Mine did. Some hydro does, some doesn't. Everyone is different.

[mumtotwo]

that intresting i assumed once you have it you always have it. If spine cord broken where does the fliud go?

[misty]

I'm not sure. Hopefully someone else will help here.

[smoop]

I was informed by our doctor that sometimes people, as they get older, become no longer dependent on the shunt. Sorry I cannot offer any specifics as to why.. but this is what I've been told. As Misty said, if they determine the shunt isn't working, why go through surgery to remove it?

[Papillon]

:33a: My body still uses my shunt, and probably always will, but I have a friend who has one that hasn't worked since she was about a year old or something. It is still sitting there inside here, no point removing it. I, too, am baffled as to why/how her body has 'fixed' her hydrocephalus! She does have issues still with regards to hydrocephalus, like vision problems, caused by the original build up of fluid she had as a baby, I think, and things like problems with organisational skills, but since problems with organisational skills seem a common problem with most of us, shunted or not, I guess it doesn't make much difference?

[dahliafaolan]

I have a few theories on how some people's hydro can go away with age. One is rather simple. Keep in mind that with a lot of cases of Spina Bifida there is a hole open to the air. This means that in utero some of the cerebrospinal fluid or CSF is leaking out into the amniotic fluid. This is how the amniocentesis catches SB. Well CSF is the way that the brain and spinal column keeps at its optimal temperature, sort of like the fluid in a car's radiator keeps everything running at the temperature it needs. Since it's losing so much CSF through this hole, the body needs to produce more to keep the brain functioning the way it needs to so when the doctors do the spinal closure, the body keeps producing this excess CSF, thus causing the hydro. I think in some people the body actually recognizes that it's producing too much after a while and slows it down to "normal" levels.

My other theory is that the hydro is actually caused by the trauma of the birth in the case of babies with a "cele". Think about it, all that fluid was in that blister-like formation so it has to go somewhere during the birthing process when all that pressure is being forced on it. So I think it goes up into the brain where there's more room. Remember, a baby's skull is still soft so it can take more pressure pushing on it than an adult's can. The doctors put the shunt in because they see all this excess fluid in the brain, but some people's bodies can take care of the fluid all by themselves given the time. I think this is what happen in people who are no longer dependent on the shunt at younger ages.

[Papillon]

Thanks Dahlia, Both of those theories make sense, I think.

[kali]

ive been told that my son is not using his shunt anymore, but we are not thinking about removing it. Its only been nine months so I think only time will tell.