VENTRICULO-VENOUS CEREBROSPINAL FLUID SHUNTS

ROENTGENOLOGIC ANALYSIS

¹ Resident and Fellow, Department of Radiology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
² Advanced Academic Fellow of the James Picker Foundation on recommendation of the Committee on Radiology, National Academy of Science, National Research Council. Department of Radiological Sciences, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland.

There are 3 systems currently in use for diversions of CSF from the lateral cerebral ventricles into the cardiac atrium. All systems have the following similarities:

1. One or more unidirectional valves to prevent reflux of blood into the system.

2. A flushing device for clinical evaluation of patency.

3. Insertion by a simple surgical procedure requiring a single surgical team.

4. Prevention of fluid and electrolyte loss.

The major complications of obstruction, infection and thromboembolism frequently produce roentgenographically detectable manifestations. A sequential approach and roentgenographic check list will aid greatly in accurate diagnosis.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. B. Shurtleff Characteristics of the Various CSF Shunt Systems Clinical Pediatrics, February 1, 1978; 17(2): 154 - 160. [PDF]