Hydrocephalus Treatment in India
About Hydrocephalus
Key Highlights
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Effectively reduces intracranial pressure and relieves debilitating symptoms.Can prevent permanent neurological damage and cognitive decline when performed timely.Offers both traditional shunt placement and minimally invasive endoscopic (ETV) options.Significantly improves quality of life, mobility, and daily functioning for patients.Procedures are well-established with a long history of clinical success in neurosurgery.
Who is this surgery for?
- Congenital hydrocephalus present in infants (e.g., aqueductal stenosis).
- Acquired hydrocephalus due to brain hemorrhage, infection (meningitis), or tumor.
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) causing gait disturbance, dementia, and incontinence.
- Post-traumatic hydrocephalus following a severe head injury.
- Persistent symptoms like severe headache, nausea, vomiting, vision blurring, or cognitive changes unresponsive to medication.
- Evidence of progressive ventricular enlargement and increased pressure on brain imaging (CT/MRI).
How to prepare
- Comprehensive neurological evaluation and imaging (CT or MRI scan) to confirm diagnosis and plan surgery.
- Pre-operative blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray to assess overall fitness for anesthesia.
- Discussion of the procedure, risks, benefits, and type of shunt or ETV with the neurosurgeon.
- Informed consent process detailing the surgical plan.
- Fasting for 6-8 hours before the surgery as per anesthesia guidelines.
- Adjustment or temporary cessation of certain medications (like blood thinners) as advised by the doctor.
Risks & possible complications
- Infection of the shunt system or surgical site, requiring antibiotics or shunt replacement.
- Shunt malfunction due to blockage, disconnection, or over-drainage/under-drainage of CSF.
- Bleeding (hemorrhage) or formation of a blood clot (hematoma) in the brain.
- Seizures, although this risk is generally low.
- Damage to surrounding brain tissue or blood vessels during the procedure.
- Complications related to general anesthesia.
- For ETV, risk of the created opening closing over time or injury to critical structures.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial 2-5 days in the hospital for monitoring of neurological status and wound healing.
- Pain at the incision sites managed with prescribed medications.
- Instructions on keeping the incision areas clean and dry to prevent infection.
- Gradual return to light activities; avoidance of strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for several weeks.
- Regular follow-up appointments to monitor shunt function and check for complications.
- Education for patients and caregivers on recognizing signs of shunt malfunction (e.g., return of headaches, vomiting, lethargy).
- Long-term, periodic imaging may be needed to ensure the system is working correctly.
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Typical hospital stay:
3-7 days
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Expected recovery time:
4-6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering hydrocephalus in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for hydrocephalus in India include Miot Hospital Chennai, Cytecare Hospital, Kamineni Hospital LB Nagar, Kamineni Hospital, King Koti, Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, known for experienced specialists and advanced surgical infrastructure.
Look at the doctor’s years of experience, hospital association, patient reviews, and how often they perform hydrocephalus. MediFyr helps you compare neurosurgeons and book consultations online.
The overall cost depends on hospital category, surgeon’s experience, room type, implant or device used (if any), length of stay, tests, and post-operative care. Our team can help you get cost estimates from multiple hospitals before you decide.
Procedure cost in other countries
Here is an overview of how the estimated cost, hospital stay, and recovery time for hydrocephalus compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Hydrocephalus in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated neurosurgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing hydrocephalus.
Hyderabad, India
67 Doctors
Amit Khan, a 58-year-old retired schoolteacher,...
Amit Khan, a 58-year-old retired schoolteacher, had always been active and sharp. Over the past six months, his wife noticed he was becoming increasingly forgetful and unsteady on his feet. Amit himself felt a constant, dull pressure in his head and found his thinking was 'foggy.' His gait became shuffling and wide-based, leading to a couple of falls. An MRI revealed normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). His neurosurgeon, Dr. Sharma, explained that the excess cerebrospinal fluid was likely causing his triad of symptoms, gait disturbance, cognitive decline, and urinary urgency. She recommended a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement to drain the fluid. Amit was anxious about brain surgery but hopeful it could reverse his decline. The procedure went smoothly. In the weeks following, his walking improved dramatically, and the mental fog began to lift. While not all his memory returned, his independence did. Amit's emotional journey was from fear of losing himself to profound gratitude for a second chance at an active life with his grandchildren.
Neurosurgeons for Hydrocephalus
Explore experienced neurosurgeons who regularly perform hydrocephalus and provide pre- and post-operative care in India.
- 18 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Miot Hospital Chennai, Chennai
- 22 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 13 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 10 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Yeshwanthpur, Bangalore
- 11 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 9 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 8 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Sarjapur Road, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Whitefield, Bangalore
- 29 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 21 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 19 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 20 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Old Airport Road, Bangalore
- 17 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 13 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Patiala, Patiala
- 17 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Mysore, Mysore
- 15 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada
- 14 Years Experience
- Neurosurgeon
Manipal Hospital Vijayawada, vijayawada