Is there a therapy for hydrocephalus in babies?
The aim of the treatment of hydrocephalus in babies is to reduce the amount of cerebral fluid and thus to avoid excessive pressure on the child’s brain. The latter can lead to long-term brain damage if not treated or treated too late.Therefore, drug therapy unfortunately only helps for a short time, as there are no drugs available yet that can eliminate the cause of hydrocephalus. For short-term treatment, so-called diuretics, for example Lasix®, can be given to reduce the production of cerebral fluid.
In the long term, however, a method must be chosen that provides relief for the brain. Therefore, in most cases a shunt is the best option. This is a type of drainage that drains off part of the cerebral fluid and can thus reduce the pressure on the brain.
Nowadays, the insertion of a shunt is the most commonly performed therapeutic measure for babies with hydrocephalus. This involves surgically placing a drainage connection of the cerebral water from the brain into the abdominal cavity. To do this, a small hole is drilled into the baby’s skull bone and a thin tube, usually made of silicone, is inserted into one of the cavities with cerebral fluid.
This tube is placed along its entire length under the skin and into the baby’s abdominal cavity. Depending on the hair growth, this tube is not too clearly visible later on. Thus, adjustable and programmable valves can be used to ensure that the cerebral fluid is drained off, thus restoring a sufficient balance of pressure.
Most of the valves that are responsible for adjusting the shunt are gravity-assisted. This means that the amount of cerebral fluid discharged is controlled whether the baby is lying down or sitting. Unfortunately, the hydrocephalus in babies is still not curable. However, therapy with a shunt can reduce the symptoms and possible consequences relatively well and a normal life can be led with it.
