About this topic
Normally, your child has spinal fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. If there is too much of this fluid, your child will have pressure in the skull that protects the brain and spinal cord. The pressure can damage the brain. Sometimes, blood vessels and parts of the brain are squeezed because of this pressure. ‚
A ventriculoperitoneal shunt, also called VP shunt, will help to remove the extra fluid. It is a tube that goes from the head to the belly and drains the extra fluid into the lining of the belly. This lining absorbs the fluid, filters it, and takes it back to the blood. This will then lower the pressure inside the skull. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Your childs doctor may give your child a few drugs. Make sure to give all the drugs as ordered by the doctor.
- Talk to your doctor about how to care for your child's cut site. Ask the doctor when your child can:
- Change the bandages
- Take a bath or shower
- Lift things over 10 pounds
- Go back to normal activities like daycare and school
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your child's cut or dressing.
- Do not let your child pick or scratch the cuts or the skin where the catheters pass through.
- The skin on top of the shunt will be swollen for a few days. This will get better over the next few days.
- Ask the doctor about using ice to help with swelling. If the doctor says it is OK, place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- It is OK for your child to sleep in any position that is comfortable. Always put your infant on the back to sleep.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your childs condition needs close monitoring. The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your child's progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- Your child's doctor will tell you if other tests are needed.
- If your child has stitches or staples, they will need to be taken out. The doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
- Your child's doctor may send your child to a physical therapist or a rehab center.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
- Prevent or treat seizures
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your childs activity. Talk to the doctor about the right amount of activity for your child. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Infection
- Shunt may drain too much fluid or not function properly.
- Bleeding
- Damage to organs near where your child had surgery
- Seizures
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, pain with passing urine, wound that will not heal.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound or where the catheters pass through; pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- Signs that the shunt may not be working well. These include very bad headache; sleepiness; head looks bigger; veins on the scalp can be seen very easily; your child is weak, irritable, throwing up, or has a bulging soft spot.
- Pale skin and nail beds
- Seizures
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or your child is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you how to care for my child's cut site.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has a bad headache; is sleepy, weak, throwing up; or has a bulging soft spot.
Where can I learn more?
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/brain/hydrocephalus.html# ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚