what is Programmable shunt?: Friends, What is... - Headway

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what is Programmable shunt?

sanju_littu profile image
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Friends,

What is programmable shunt in simple terms. Can anyone explain? how long it works once installed? Does it need to be changes every 5 yrs?

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sanju_littu profile image
sanju_littu
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cat3 profile image
cat3

Hi Sanju. I've copied & pasted this article from the internet. It explains the advantages of a programmable shunt over a fixed pressure one. Hope it helps :-

Use of a programmable shunt can significantly increase the probability of shunt implantation being a one-time procedure. If the pressure setting of a fixed pressure shunt proves to be a mismatch after surgery, causing underdrainage or overdrainage complications, the patient must undergo a complete or partial shunt revision, sometimes more than once.

This is a limitation of all fixed pressure shunts.

The CODMAN® HAKIM® Programmable Valve gives your doctor a choice of 18 different programmable pressure settings. It is the same size as traditional fixed pressure shunts and is implanted in exactly the same way. Using an exclusive external programming device, the surgeon selects the initial pressure setting prior to the procedure, and can then easily adjust the setting at any time and as many times as necessary without further surgery.

The large range of pressure settings allows the surgeon to make very fine adjustments in the pressure in order to get the best resolution of symptoms after the shunt is implanted. The totally non-invasive adjustments take only seconds and can be done right in the office with little or no patient discomfort.

Julie-dewdew profile image
Julie-dewdew

I have a programmable shunt. It's stays in and shouldn't need to be removed. It drains fluid that your spine makes away from the brain, stopping hydrocephalus from occurring. Mine was fitted when I suffered a sub arachnoid haemorrhage in two places last November. Don't know what type of shunt I have as it was fitted as part of a study. I was on life support so my family made the dissuasion to have mine fitted all I know about it is that its programmable . It takes a while to get used to having and feels strange when you brush/wash hair or roll over in bed and lean on it, but mine is saving my life so I've no objection to it being there. I've slowly learned to live with it....

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