Ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery is a medical process to treat the problem of hydrocephalus. This surgery is performed to reduce the pressure in the brain. Hydrocephalus is a neurological condition in which a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid starts depositing in the ventricles inside the brain. This causes compression of the nerves and blocks the drainage system of the brain. Healthcheckbox supports international patients at every step by providing access to top neurology and neurosurgery experts in India who provide expert medical care for medium to complex neurological conditions.

Why is Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery Done?

Doctors perform ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery when a person notices a few signs which are related to hydrocephalus or conditions that may increase the compression in the nerves. Here are some of the common symptoms mentioned that an individual should be aware of:

Headaches
Vision Problems
Nausea
Vomitting
Memory Loss
Difficulty in Concentrating
Difficulty in walking.
Problems in maintaining balance
Uncontrollable shaking of the body

Types of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Check the various types of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery:

Standard Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery: A common type of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in which the doctor places a catheter into the brain’s ventricles and connects its other end to the abdomen for the absorption of fluid into the blood.
Adjustable/Programmable Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A magnetic machine which is adjustable according to the patient’s need to drain out the CSF fluid into the blood. The pressure of this valve of draining fluid can be regulated from the outside.
Neuronavigation-Guided Placement of Shunt: An advanced type of technique that helps doctors to find out the exact place of placing the catheter into the ventricle. This shunt consists of high tech cameras which visualise the 3-D picture of the entire brain in the computer.
Lumboperitoneal Shunt Surgery: An another type of surgery in which doctors places catheter into the lower region of the back and connect the other end to the stomach. By this way, excess CSF fluid travels from the spinal cord area and is deposited into the stomach where it gets absorbed by the body.

Causes of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Here are some of the common causes given below:

Birth defects like spina bifida, aqueductal stenosis, etc.
Brain Tumors
Infections
Serious Brain Injury
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Diagnosis of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Doctors examine the brain and skull through various physical and neurological exams which gives them a kind of confirmation of the presence of hydropcephalus. This helps them to find out whether surgery is required or not for the patient. Here are some evaluations given:

Physical Exams
Neurological Exams
Mental Health Checkup
Ultrasound
CT & MRI scan

Note: In the complex cases, they may add lumbar puncture, intracranial pressure, and an external Lumbar Drainage test.

Procedure & Postoperative Care of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

In ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery, doctors give anesthesia to the patient so that the patient does not feel pain during surgery. Check out the steps of surgery:

Incisions: The doctor makes a small cut in the patient’s head behind and in the abdomen which is nearly 14mm.
Catheter Placement: In this, doctors place a thin and flexible tube inside the brain and pass the other end through the body into the stomach.
Valve Placement: The doctor places this valve around the head of the cut to control the flow of CSF fluid.
Incisions Closing: After the surgery, the doctor close the incisions.

After the surgery, doctors keep the patient under observation to monitor their neurological functions.

The doctor gave the painkillers and medicines to the patients for recovery.
Doctors cover stitches with bandages to secure them.
Doctor recommend to take liquids diet for a few days.
They help patients to do a little physical activity but heavy exercises are restricted.
The patient will need regular check ups.

Benefits of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Here are some of the benefits of this surgery:

It reduces headaches.
Protect Vision.
The chances of delay in the development of infants reduce.
Improves the memory, thinking and concentration ability.
Improvement in Quality of Life.

Risks & Complications of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery

Read out the risks which may occur from this surgery.

Blood clots in the brain
Bleeding
It may damage brain tissue
Swelling in the head
Infection

Cost of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery in India

The cost of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery mainly starts from INR 30,000 and may go up to INR 2,00,000 depending upon the location, expert surgeons, hospitals, and level of complexity. The average cost of this surgery may lie from INR 80,000 to 1,50,000 which includes surgery, anesthesia, surgical fees and hospital stay.

Why Choose HealthcheckBox for Medical Tourism Services?

Here are some top reasons that you should consider:

Service Support: We organise the full medical journey of a patient which includes hospital, required doctor, treatment planning, and 24/7 care.
Travel Support: We provide medical visa, hotel reservations, and transportation for a smooth treatment journey in India to our international patients.
Affordable Cost: Healthcheckbox provides clear cost estimations which help patients to find treatment options according to their affordability.
Network of Experts: We collaborate with over thousands of specialists across many medical fields and partner with top tier, accredited hospitals like Medanta, Fortis, and Max Healthcare.
Personalized Care: Every patient is assigned with the case manager who takes full responsibility for that individual so that they do not face any kind of problem in their treatment journey.