Shunt Dysfunction

Shunt dysfunction. The two most frequent causes of shunt dysfunction are an obstruction of the ventricular catheter (by villi of the plexus entering the holes of the catheter tip as shown in the figure, due to a reaction of the ventricular wall in slit ventricle syndrome, or by debris in the CSF), or due to growth of the child (disconnection of parts of the shunt, too short peritoneal catheter, and other mechanisms). 90 % of the shunt patients ( $$hydr_27??££see alternate figure§§ ) with continuous shunt dependency develop in case of shunt failure slight to life-threatening symptoms due to recurrence of hydrocephalus and intracranial pressure. $$comm_19??nr=2££See alternate figure§§ (Differential diagnosis of unconsciousness and clouding of consciousness).