NPH Surgery And Help

The treatment of choice for NPH patients is the placement of a CSF shunt.  A shunt is an implantable device designed to drain CSF fluid away from the brain thereby allowing the enlarged ventricles to return to a normal state.  As CSF fluid builds and the pressure in the ventricle increases, a one-way valve in the shunt opens, and the excess CSF fluid drains into the abdomen where it is easily absorbed.  The insertion procedure usually takes less than one hour.

The CSF shunt is typically routed from the brain to the abdominal cavity underneath the skin (in the subcutaneous space).  More recently, the abdominal placement of the catheter is performed laparoscopically (using a lighted camera).  This minimizes postoperative pain (compared to the standard procedure) and also allows for optimal placement of the shunt catheter.  It may be the case that such placement of the distal catheter decreases the incidence of shunt blockage (malfunction).  Shunt revision surgery (in the event of blockage) is also performed laparoscopically and is typically an outpatient procedure lasting approximately 20 minutes.

Dr. Osborn utilizes a programmable valve which allows him to adjust (in small increments) the drainage rate of spinal fluid.  This may reduce the need for revision surgery in the event that the shunt system is draining too slowly or rapidly.  And with a portable programming device, in the office setting, Dr. Osborn can adjust the “shunt settings” until the patient has the desired response (improvement of symptoms).  A patient may need periodic adjustments in order to optimize his/her level of function.

Dr. Osborn and his surgical colleagues have performed many such procedures with a low complication rate.