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ASKAnother surgery option to treat water on the brain is a ventriculostomy, in which the surgeon uses a camera to view the area where a tiny hole is made that will relieve the excess CSF. The surgeon uses a small tool to make a hole either between the ventricles or in the bottom of one of the ventricles. This hole allows for the excess CSF to drain out of the brain.
Side effects may occur with these different surgeries. For example, some patients may have a recurrence of their original water on the brain symptoms.
Vision problems, headaches, fever and irritability may occur. With a shunt system, redness or tenderness of the skin may occur. When a patient has a shunt valve in her abdomen, she may have abdominal pain. Other side effects include drowsiness, nausea and vomiting.
References
MayoClinic.com. Hydrocephalus. Web. 30 December 2011
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hydrocephalus/DS00393/METHOD=print
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Hydrocephalus. Web. 30 December 2011
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001571.htm
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Hydrocephalus Fact Sheet. Web. 30 December 2011
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm
Reviewed December 30, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith
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