Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is usually treated by diverting the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to a place in the body where it can be absorbed. This is usually done via a shunt or ETV procedure.

Some forms of hydrocephalus require no specific treatment or are temporary and do not require treatment on a long-term basis. However, most forms do require treatment and this is usually surgical.

Drugs have been used for many years but they may have unpleasant side effects and are not often successful.

Note: Some children and adults with hydrocephalus will develop seizures. For information on epilepsy and treatment see the Epilepsy action website: www.epilepsy.org.uk

 

Pre-treatment

You may be asked to have a lumbar puncture to help your specialist decide which treatment is best for you. Click here for more information on Lumbar Punctures.

Shunts

A shunt is the most commonly used way of controlling the high pressure inside the head caused by hydrocephalus. It diverts CSF from the ventricles or other CSF-filled spaces to be absorbed in another area of the body.

You can read more about shunts on our information pages here.

 

Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy (ETV)

This procedure used as an alternative to a shunt. Instead of draining the CSF away (like a shunt does) it keeps it within the brain and spinal cord. The neurosurgeon makes a hole in the thin membrane at the base of the third ventricle, which allows the fluid in to the area that lines the brain and the spinal cord called the sub arachnoid space.  Once the fluid has been drained into this space, it can be absorbed.

You can read about this procedure here.