Ventriculoperitoneal shunt - discharge

Alternate Names

Shunt - ventriculoperitoneal - discharge; VP shunt - discharge; Shunt revision - discharge

When Your Child Was in the Hospital:

Your child has hydrocephalus and needed a shunt placed to drain excess fluid and relieve pressure in the brain. This buildup of brain and spinal cord fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) and pressure causes the brain tissue to press (become compressed) against the skull. Too much pressure or pressure that is present too long will damage the brain tissue.

Your child had an incision behind their ear and a small hole drilled through the skull. A small incision or cut was also made in the belly. A valve was placed underneath the skin behind the ear. One catheter was placed into the brain to bring the fluid to the valve. Another catheter was connected to the valve and threaded underneath the skin down into your child's belly.

What to Expect at Home:

Any stitches or staples that you can see will be taken out in about 7 days.

All parts of the shunt are underneath the skin. At first, the area at the top of the shunt may be raised up underneath the skin. As the swelling goes away and your child's hair grows back, there will be a small raised area about the size of a quarter that will not be noticeable.

Self-care:

Do not shower or shampoo your child' s head until their stitches and staples have been taken out. Give your child a sponge bath instead. The wound should not soak in water at all until the skin is completely healed.

Do not push on the part of the shunt that you can feel or see underneath your child' s skin behind the ear.

Your child should be able to eat their normal diet when they go home.

Your child should be able to do most activities.

If you have a baby, handle your baby the way you would normally. It is okay to bounce your baby.
Older children can perform most regular activities. Talk with your doctor about contact sports.
Most of the time, your child may sleep in any position. Ask your doctor or nurse.

Your child may have some pain when they go home. Children under 4 years old may take acetaminophen (Tylenol). Children age 4 and older may be prescribed stronger pain medicines, if needed.

When to Call the Doctor:

The major problems to watch for are an infected shunt and a blocked shunt.

Call your child' s doctor if your child has:

Fever of 101 °F or higher
Pain in the belly that does not go away
Stiff neck or headache
No appetite or is not eating well
Veins on the head or scalp that look larger than they used to
Problems in school
Poor development or has lost a developmental skill previously attained
Become more cranky or irritable
Redness, swelling, bleeding, or increased discharge from the incision
Vomiting that does not go away
Sleep problems or is more sleepy than usual
High-pitched cry
Been looking more pale
A head that is growing larger
Bulging or tenderness in the soft spot at the top of the head
A seizure

Reviewed last on: 1/12/2009
Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Surgical wound care

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