Skip to Content   What is hydrocephalus?  View the hydrocephalus
fact sheet »   Hydrocephalus: The Latest Options for Treatment
What causes hydrocephalus?   How is hydrocephalus treated?
There is no known way to prevent or cure hydrocephalus. To date,
the most effective treatment is surgical insertion of a shunt. A
shunt is a flexible tube placed into the ventricular system of
the brain which diverts the flow of CSF into another region of
the body, most often the abdominal cavity or a chamber of the
heart, where it can be absorbed. A valve within the shunt
maintains the CSF at normal pressure within the ventricles. This
procedure is performed by a neurosurgeon, preferably one who
specializes in pediatrics if the patient is a child. Sometimes,
if there is a blockage between the ventricles it can be bypassed
by placing a small hole in the floor of the third ventricle
using a special instrument called a ventriculoscope. In that
case a shunt is not needed.  What are the effects of
hydrocephalus?   En Español