hydrocephalus in dog - PETS
Overview Hydrocephalus is the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in spaces called ventricles deep within the brain. This buildup can make the ventricles larger and put pressure on the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid usually flows through the brain ventricles and around the brain and spinal column.
Understanding the Context
When there's too much fluid, the pressure can harm brain tissue and lead to changes in thinking ... The most common hydrocephalus treatment is a shunt — a flexible tube with a one-way valve. The valve helps drain extra fluid from the brain at the right speed and in the right direction. One end of the tube is placed in a ventricle inside the brain.
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Hydrocephalus care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) and brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons) have extensive experience in treating hydrocephalus and related conditions. Hydrocephalus can increase pressure inside the skull, harming brain function. Sometimes, fluid buildup enlarges the ventricles without raising the pressure level, which can also cause issues. This is called normal-pressure hydrocephalus.
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A shunt helps drain the built-up fluid to another part of the body, where it can be absorbed safely. Adult-onset hydrocephalus Benjamin D. Elder, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses adult-onset hydrocephalus, including idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Topics include: Diagnosis Treatment options Outcomes Complications Cerebral spinal fluid diversion ... Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), and other specialties conduct research in hydrocephalus and other neurological conditions. Ask your healthcare professional if you or your child should receive a vaccine against meningitis, once a common cause of hydrocephalus.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends meningitis vaccination for preteen children and boosters for teenagers. Idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) can be debilitating for people over age 60, yet it is underdiagnosed. Mayo Clinic is using cutting-edge technology to improve diagnosis and treatment approaches for this reversible condition.