For more information, please visit our Pediatric Neurosurgery
Program site What is it? A ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is a
surgical treatment for hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a
neurological disease literally meaning water on the brain and
can be very disabling. This fluid (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF)
is normally made then reabsorbed at certain rates and when these
rates are not balanced, it can lead to an increase in fluid
causing pressure and resulting in neurologic symptoms. CSF
normally resides in cavities in the brain called ventricles. The
purpose of a VPS is to drain this excess fluid from the
ventricle. This is achieved by placing a tube into the ventricle
(in the brain) which drains the fluid to the abdomen. There is
typically a valve which prevents the fluid from moving in the
wrong direction and only lets fluid drain when the pressure is
too high. What is its goal? The goal of a ventriculoperitoneal
shunt (VPS) is to reduce the abnormally high pressure inside the
brain. This is achieved by pl