Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Treatment in India
About Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
Key Highlights
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Effectively relieves dangerous pressure on the brain caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Alleviates debilitating symptoms such as chronic headaches, nausea, vomiting, and vision problems.Helps prevent permanent neurological damage and cognitive decline associated with untreated hydrocephalus.Restores normal CSF flow and can significantly improve a patient's quality of life and daily functioning.The implanted shunt system is designed for long-term management, though it may require monitoring and occasional revision.
Who is this surgery for?
- Hydrocephalus (communicating or non-communicating) diagnosed via imaging like CT or MRI scans.
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) presenting with the classic triad of gait disturbance, urinary incontinence, and dementia.
- Post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus, often following an intracranial hemorrhage or stroke.
- Post-infectious hydrocephalus resulting from conditions like meningitis.
- Hydrocephalus secondary to brain tumors obstructing CSF pathways.
- Congenital hydrocephalus present in infants and children.
- Pseudotumor cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension) when other treatments fail.
How to prepare
- Comprehensive neurological evaluation and imaging studies (CT/MRI) to confirm hydrocephalus and plan the surgery.
- Pre-operative blood tests, ECG, and chest X-ray to assess overall fitness for anesthesia.
- Discussion of all medications with the neurosurgeon; discontinuation of blood thinners (e.g., aspirin, warfarin) as advised.
- Fasting (no food or drink) for 6-8 hours before the scheduled procedure.
- Informed consent process detailing the procedure's benefits, risks, and alternatives.
- Shaving of a small area of the head and abdomen at the surgical sites.
Risks & possible complications
- Infection: Shunt infection is a serious complication that may require antibiotic treatment and temporary shunt removal.
- Shunt Malfunction: The shunt can become blocked, disconnected, or over-drain/under-drain CSF, necessitating revision surgery.
- Bleeding: Risk of intracranial or abdominal bleeding during or after the procedure.
- Seizures: Potential for new-onset seizures post-operatively.
- Abdominal Complications: Can include pain, fluid collection (pseudocyst), or bowel perforation (rare).
- Hardware-related Issues: Skin erosion over the shunt tubing or allergic reaction to shunt material.
Recovery & hospital stay
- Initial recovery in the hospital for monitoring of neurological status and shunt function, typically lasting 2-5 days.
- Pain at the incision sites is managed with prescribed medications.
- Patients are instructed to watch for signs of shunt malfunction or infection, such as severe headache, fever, redness along the shunt tract, vomiting, or drowsiness.
- Avoidance of strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and contact sports for several weeks as advised by the surgeon.
- Incision sites must be kept clean and dry until fully healed to prevent infection.
- Regular follow-up appointments with the neurosurgeon for clinical assessment and sometimes imaging to ensure the shunt is working correctly.
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Typical hospital stay:
2-5 days
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Expected recovery time:
4-6 weeks
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are considering ventriculoperitoneal shunt in India, these questions and answers can help you make a confident, informed decision.
Popular choices for ventriculoperitoneal 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 ventriculoperitoneal 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 ventriculoperitoneal shunt compare across other countries where we have data.
Top hospitals for Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt in India
These partner hospitals in India have dedicated neurosurgery teams and experience managing patients undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Hyderabad, India
67 Doctors
Vivaan Sharma, a 68-year-old retired history...
Vivaan Sharma, a 68-year-old retired history professor, began experiencing debilitating headaches and confusion six months ago. His wife noticed he was increasingly forgetful and unsteady on his feet. After a fall at home, a CT scan revealed normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). His neurosurgeon, Dr. Mehta, explained that excess cerebrospinal fluid was putting pressure on his brain, causing his symptoms. She recommended a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain the fluid into his abdomen. Vivaan was terrified of brain surgery but desperate to regain his independence. The procedure went smoothly. After a few days of post-op dizziness and a week of careful recovery at home, Vivaan's 'wet, wobbly, and weird' symptoms dramatically improved. His balance returned, his headaches vanished, and his clarity of thought slowly came back. The emotional journey was profound, from fearing he was developing dementia and losing himself, to feeling a deep gratitude for the return of his mental sharpness and the simple joy of taking a steady walk with his wife again.
Neurosurgeons for Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt
Explore experienced neurosurgeons who regularly perform ventriculoperitoneal 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