Since you are thinking right now, we know that you understand how important it is to meet your brain’s needs. Your brain is surrounded by a liquid called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF for short. This liquid is very important as it helps to cushion the brain; supply nutrients and remove waste; and keep the equilibrium in the skull balanced as the amount of blood in the head changes. It also helps the brain communicate with the body because this fluid flows back and forth between your skull and your spine. As you can see, CSF plays an important role in your body.

Your body naturally creates CSF, uses it and then absorbs it back into the bloodstream. Sometimes, complications develop that cause too much CSF fluid to accumulate around your brain. This condition is called hydrocephalus. The problem starts because the body becomes unable to absorb enough of the fluid. The nature of how the condition starts defines which type of hydrocephalus you have.

• Non-communicating Hydrocephalus- This type of the disorder happens when there is some sort of block in the ventricular pathway. Ventricular pathways are the “pipes” in the body through which CSF flows. As with any blocked pipe, there will be a buildup of the liquid that it helps travel. In this case, the buildup is in the cranium.
• Communicating Hydrocephalus- This aspect of the disorder happens after the CSF flows through the ventricular pathways. The fluid ends up accumulating because the body cannot absorb it fast enough.

The human body exhibits different symptoms for hydrocephalus, depending upon age. The condition can affect anyone from an infant to an elderly adult. While we warn that medical professionals should be consulted to diagnose a condition such as hydrocephalus, there are some warning signs that you can look for in adults:

• Severe headaches that result in vomiting
• Lack of coordination and balance
• Blurred vision
• Irritability
• Lack of Energy
• Noticeable changes in one’s temperament or personality

If you or someone you know seems to be exhibiting the above symptoms, we recommend that they be diagnosed by a medical professional. If the doctor does in fact agree that they are suffering from hydrocephalus, they will undergo treatment for the disorder. While there is not a cure at this time, there are medical options which can alleviate the problems that the condition causes.

• Shunt- By far the most common treatment is the surgical implantation of a shunt. A shunt is a medical device that is implanted in the head that allows the CSF to be drained to another area of the body where it can be absorbed. A shunt is comprised of :
  • A catheter that serves to drain the CSF
  • A tube that carries the CSF from the cranium to another part of the body, usually in the abdomen.
  • A valve that makes sure that the CSF flow through the catheter, down the tube away from the brain and not in the opposite direction.
• Third Ventriculostomy- This treatment is only available for a small number of hydrocephalus patients. This procedure involves surgeons using a very small camera to get a better look at the third ventricle. (one of the passageways that CSF flows through in the cranium) Once the surgeons have a good look at the third ventricle, they actually create a small hole in it. This hole allows the CSF to drain out.

Medical advances come about every day. In the future there will likely be more treatments for hydrocephalus. In the meantime it is best to take the advice of an expert as to how the condition should best be treated.

If you would like more information On University Hospital and Medical Center or hydrocephalus, feel free to visit us online. If you have other medical questions, we encourage you to call our Consult-A-Nurse® hotline at 1-866-442-2362.

SOURCES

http://www.hydrocephalus.org/facts.htm
https://health.google.com/health/ref/Hydrocephalus
http://www.medicinenet.com/hydrocephalus/page3.htm
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hydrocephalus/detail_hydrocephalus.htm
http://uhmchealth.com/