Table of Content
For more information, talk with your healthcare provider or call the number above. Depending on the type of VP shunt you have, the magnet in the MRI machine may change your shunt’s pressure setting. In some cases, you may need to have x-rays to find out if the pressure setting has changed. Your caregiver plays an important role in your care. Before your surgery, you and your caregiver will learn about your surgery from your healthcare providers. After your surgery, your caregiver will take you home when you’re discharged from the hospital.
They’ll tell you when it may be safe for you to start working again based on what you do. If you move around a lot or lift heavy objects, you may need to stay out a little longer. If you sit at a desk, you may be able to go back sooner. Do not drive or drink alcohol while you’re taking prescription pain medication. Some prescription pain medications can make you drowsy .
When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider
If you smoke, you can have breathing problems when you have surgery. Stopping for even a few days before your surgery can help. Be honest with your healthcare providers about how much alcohol you drink. If you drink alcohol regularly, you may be at risk for other problems during and after your surgery.
Your surgeon will give you a list of symptoms of shunt infection and explain what to do if you have those symptoms. It is important to follow their instructions carefully. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.
VP shunt - care at home
Without problems, your child's shunt may be left in place for years. If you are unable to speak with the neurosurgeon, go to the Emergency Department. A shunt malfunction or infection may be life-threatening if not treated.
There will be a lump on your head where the valve is. You may or may not feel the shunt underneath your skin. This publication is for general education and information purposes. Contact a qualified healthcare professional for any medical advice needed.
What Happens During the Placement of a VP Shunt?
You’ll either walk into the operating room or a staff member will bring you there on a stretcher. A member of your care team will help you onto a bed. They will put compression boots on your lower legs. Talk with you about your comfort and safety during your surgery. Your breathing device for sleep apnea , if you have one.
The doctor will also give you instructions about your child taking any new medicines. It is important to watch for signs of infection or signs that the shunt is not working right. If your child's shunt gets infected or stops working well, it may need to be removed or replaced.
VP shunt surgery
Do not stop taking aspirin unless they tell you to. Aerobic exercise is any exercise that makes your heart beat faster, such as walking, swimming, or biking. If it’s cold outside, use stairs in your home or go to a mall or shopping center. The names and telephone numbers of your healthcare providers.
This happens because some of your nerves were cut during your surgery. Pain medication should help you get back to your normal activities. Take enough medication to do your activities and exercises comfortably. It’s normal for your pain to increase a little as you start to be more active. Follow the instructions on the label or from your healthcare provider. Call your healthcare provider if the medication prescribed for you does not help your pain.
Our Nutrition Service offers nutritional counseling with one of our clinical dietitian nutritionists. Your clinical dietitian nutritionist will talk with you about your eating habits. They can also give advice on what to eat during and after treatment. To make an appointment, ask a member of your care team for a referral or call the number above. Call your healthcare provider if you have signs and symptoms of a VP shunt infection.
We can also help with insurance and employment issues. The RLAC Program is for patients and their families who have finished treatment. They may help you as you get ready for your surgery and recover after your surgery.
You’ll be asked to say and spell your name and birth date many times. People with the same or a similar name may be having surgery on the same day. Your healthcare team will use it to teach you how to care for yourself after surgery.
The shunt will need to remain in place, even after you feel better. As you start to feel better, you will be able to get up and walk without help and start to eat solid foods again. You will get to go home as soon as your surgeon feels that you are ready. This is often only a day or two after your surgery. The Health Encyclopedia contains general health information. For a list of covered benefits, please refer to your Evidence of Coverage or Summary Plan Description.
When Your Child Was in the Hospital
The surgeon will then make another incision in the abdomen and run the shunt under your skin down into your abdomen. They will close the incisions with stitches or staples and cover these with bandages. The setting of a fixed valve is chosen before the shunt is placed. In clinical trials, fixed and programmable valves have worked equally well. The different brands of valves also tend to work about the same in these trials.
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