About Syringoperitoneal Shunt
Key Highlights
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Directly reduces pressure within the spinal cord cyst (syrinx).Can halt the progression of neurological symptoms like pain, numbness, and weakness.May help stabilize or improve motor and sensory function in the limbs.Provides a long-term management solution for syringomyelia when conservative treatments fail.Involves a programmable valve in many cases, allowing non-invasive pressure adjustments post-surgery.
Who is this surgery for?
- Progressive syringomyelia causing worsening neurological deficits (e.g., increasing pain, limb weakness, sensory loss).
- Chiari malformation (Type I) associated with a significant or growing syrinx.
- Post-traumatic syringomyelia following spinal cord injury.
- Idiopathic syringomyelia with debilitating symptoms unresponsive to other therapies.
- Syringomyelia related to spinal cord tumors or arachnoiditis.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive neurological examination and imaging (MRI of the entire spine and brain) to confirm diagnosis and plan surgery.
- Pre-operative blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray to assess overall fitness for anesthesia.
- Discussion with the neurosurgeon about the procedure's goals, risks, and expected outcomes.
- Discontinuation of certain medications (like blood thinners) as advised by the medical team, typically several days before surgery.
- Fasting (no food or drink) for 6-8 hours prior to the scheduled procedure time.
Risks & possible complications
- Infection at the incision sites or along the shunt tract.
- Bleeding, hematoma formation, or injury to neural structures during catheter placement.
- Shunt malfunction, including blockage, disconnection, or under-drainage/over-drainage of fluid.
- CSF leak from the surgical site.
- Formation of abdominal pseudocyst or adhesions around the peritoneal catheter.
- Rarely, injury to abdominal organs during peritoneal catheter placement.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial hospital stay for monitoring of neurological status and wound healing.
- Pain management with prescribed medications.
- Instructions on keeping the incision sites clean and dry; avoiding strenuous activity and heavy lifting for several weeks.
- Gradual return to normal activities as tolerated, with specific guidance from the neurosurgeon.
- Regular follow-up appointments and imaging (MRI) to monitor shunt function and syrinx size.
- Education on signs of shunt malfunction or infection (e.g., fever, headache, return of original symptoms, abdominal pain) requiring immediate medical attention.
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Typical hospital stay: 4-7 days
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Expected recovery time: 4-6 weeks for initial recovery; full stabilization may take several months
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering syringoperitoneal shunt in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for syringoperitoneal shunt 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 syringoperitoneal shunt. 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 syringoperitoneal shunt compare across other countries where we have data.
| Country | Estimated cost range | Typical stay | Recovery time | View details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | INR 250 Thousand – 600 Thousand | 4-7 days | ~ 4-6 weeks for initial recovery; full stabilization may take several months | Know More |
| Turkey | TRY 875 Thousand – 2.1 Million | 4-7 days | ~ 4-6 weeks for initial recovery; full stabilization may take several months | Know More |
Top hospitals for Syringoperitoneal Shunt in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated neurosurgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing syringoperitoneal shunt.
Amit Verma, a 42-year-old software engineer...
Amit Verma, a 42-year-old software engineer and father of two, had always been active. For the past 18 months, he'd been battling a mysterious, worsening headache that felt like intense pressure behind his eyes, especially in the mornings. His balance became unsteady, and he started experiencing double vision, making his daily commute and work on screens nearly impossible. After multiple consultations, an MRI revealed a syringomyelia, a fluid-filled cyst (syrinx) stretching down his spinal cord from his neck. His neurosurgeon, Dr. Mehta, explained that the syrinx was damaging the nerves controlling his arms and balance. He recommended a syringoperitoneal shunt, a small tube to drain the excess cerebrospinal fluid from the cyst into his abdomen, where it could be safely reabsorbed. Amit was terrified of spinal surgery but desperate for relief. The procedure went smoothly. The first few days of recovery were tough with surgical pain, but within a week, the crushing morning headaches were gone. Over three months, his balance improved dramatically, and the double vision resolved. Emotionally, Amit journeyed from frustration and fear of losing his career to profound relief and gratitude. He's back to coaching his son's cricket team, cherishing the simple joy of a pain-free day.
Neurosurgeons for Syringoperitoneal Shunt
Explore experienced neurosurgeons who regularly perform syringoperitoneal shunt 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