Summary
In addition to the high rate of shunt complications due to obstruction and infection there is a considerable number of undesirable side effects caused by excessive drainage of CSF. Four hundred shunt treated patients are analyzed for overdrainage signs: acute decompression symptoms produced by upward shifting of the brain stem, low pressure headaches (mostly transient), and microcephaly and head deformities like scaphocephaly in infants. Skull X-ray changes reflect adjustment to reduced intracranial content. Slit ventricles and a marked intolerance to minimal pressure rises may be quite troublesome. Subdural haematomas are only exceptionally space-occupying; in most instances they are space-filling. Causes, incidence, management, and prevention are discussed.
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Faulhauer, K., Schmitz, P. Overdrainage phenomena in shunt treated hydrocephalus. Acta neurochir 45, 89–101 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01774384
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01774384