9/26: shunt surgery
In support of
Bringing Hope and Healing to Gabe
View Support Registry
Bringing Hope and Healing to Gabe
9/26:
This morning Gabe had a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placed to help with the CSF accumulation in his brain since the external drain (EVD) was not able to keep up, was causing symptoms due to needing to clamp whenever he moved, and ran a risk of infection the longer it was in. Due to the pressure and size of the tumor, the newly formed internal drain (ETV) was not going to be able to keep up, so shunt was the next step to address the hydrocephalus. It's essentially a catheter from one of his ventricles that goes to a valve, and a catheter from there to his abdomen. When CSF has accumulated too much and pressures are higher, the valve will trigger to drain excess CSF to his abdomen to then be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
Surgery went well and he is comfortable. He has three incisions that we will keep an eye on, as well as any symptoms of infection, shunt not working, pressure fluctuations he is unable to handle well, etc. He will need to take it easy, but overall he's relieved to have the external drain gone.
This morning Gabe had a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placed to help with the CSF accumulation in his brain since the external drain (EVD) was not able to keep up, was causing symptoms due to needing to clamp whenever he moved, and ran a risk of infection the longer it was in. Due to the pressure and size of the tumor, the newly formed internal drain (ETV) was not going to be able to keep up, so shunt was the next step to address the hydrocephalus. It's essentially a catheter from one of his ventricles that goes to a valve, and a catheter from there to his abdomen. When CSF has accumulated too much and pressures are higher, the valve will trigger to drain excess CSF to his abdomen to then be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.
Surgery went well and he is comfortable. He has three incisions that we will keep an eye on, as well as any symptoms of infection, shunt not working, pressure fluctuations he is unable to handle well, etc. He will need to take it easy, but overall he's relieved to have the external drain gone.
Comments