IS Shunt installation a major surgery?

[sanju_littu]

friends, we are very much worried, can anyone one tell us how complicated is this shunt installation? how long it takes to get healed from this? any other details you would like to convey please do it, we would be grateful to you.

Luv

SAnju

[Hidden]

I don't know how complicated it is, but my partner had one about 7 months ago, I wouldn't worry about it (I know, easier said than done!) Because they wouldn't do it if he didn't need it. My partner was vegetative at the time and for a long while after - due to the accident, NOT the shunt, if he didn't have the op he would have died. Sorry I can't tell you anymore, but if he needs it it's a good thing that he's having it x

[cat3]

A shunt is a relatively straightforward procedure. The patient will be required to fast for 8 hours before the procedure as is always the case before a general anaesthetic.

After receiving the anaesthetic the patient will have one end of a tube inserted behind an ear and through a pre-drilled hole in the skull. The other end of the tube is routed under the skin and down to the abdomen where the spinal fluid can safely drain away thereby relieving pressure from the brain.

Surgery of any kind can present complications or risks but this is not considered a high-risk procedure. The whole procedure takes approximately 1 and 1/2 hours and the patient is usually conscious and taking food & liquid within hours.

Recovery takes around 3 days and, depending on the surgeon's satisfaction with the shunt's performance, a mobile patient will be discharged after 7 days. The tiny pump, also situated behind the ear, might need some adjustment by the surgeon to ensure the ideal rate of flow of fluid during this period.

This is considered a very safe procedure and one which can greatly improve the wellbeing of patients suffering from a build up of fluid around the brain.

Hope this helps to ease your anxiety a little Sanju. Cat x

[Matt2584]

Hi Sanju,

I have already explained before about my shunt and the only real complication really for me is that it has malfunctioned/blocked in the past and I would need further surgery to unblock it.

But talking about the shunt malfunctioning, the biggest reason (I think) is because of my diet. The times my shunt has blocked up have also been the times where my diet was horrible or poor.

Eating a better, healthier diet has kept my shunt in working order for me and I continue to eat healthily, when I can, as eating healthy can do a lot for the body.

When you ask how long it takes to heal, what exactly do you mean? How long for wound to heal after the shunt has been installed? If so, not a long time for wound to heal. Shunt installation obviously leaves scars. I have one on the right side of my head and one on the right side of my belly.

I have been told by my doctors that I should not play any contact sports because it could be easy to dislodge the shunt but saying that, that does not mean I cannot play contact sports at all. I was playing contact sports after my shunt was in for years.

Also, another thing that docs said was to avoid deep sea diving which I was not going to do anyway. However I don't think it just refers to deep sea diving though, I like to think it refers to any kind of diving in the sea/pool.

I have read on some websites before that altitude can affect the shunt. Some people find the thin air, higher up in the world can affect the shunt. I don't think I have this problem though