A shunt is a connection between cavities or vessels that are actually separated from each other. This connection can occur naturally, for example due to a malformation, or it can be created artificially, for example to support medical treatment.
What is a shunt?
By a shunt, physicians mean a connection between vessels or hollow organs that are otherwise naturally separated from each other. For example, veins and arteries can be connected in this way. Doctors understand a shunt to be a so-called short circuit, i.e. a connection between vessels or hollow organs that are otherwise naturally separated from one another. For example, veins and arteries can be connected in this way to increase blood flow and thus provide services that are not possible through natural blood vessels alone. Some shunts occur naturally (for example, in the embryonic stage or due to malformations); however, they are usually placed artificially. In the latter case, they are part of a medical treatment where it is necessary to achieve effective flow of body fluids. The best known are shunts placed on the forearm in dialysis patients.
Shapes, types, and styles
Shunts in medicine are basically divided into naturally occurring and artificially created shunts. Naturally occurring shunts occur, for example, as a result of malformation (malformation). Fetuses also have three shunts at the embryonic stage that close on their own after birth. These are the hepatic shunt, the atrial shunt and the aortic shunt. They are used for oxygen intake by the fetus, which is not yet able to take it in by breathing. If these shunts do not close completely, heart defects may develop. Artificially created shunts become necessary when a constant flow of body fluids such as blood between two cavities/vessels must be ensured. They are surgically inserted into the affected body region and can serve different specific purposes.
Structure, use, and mode of operation
An artificial shunt is a tube that is implanted into the body. This requires a surgical procedure, which may be more or less complicated depending on the position. Very often, such artificial shunts connect veins and arteries, thus allowing a constant blood flow. This is necessary, for example, if dialysis is to be performed regularly. Such a shunt must have a specific diameter that is as large as possible and must also be particularly long to allow puncture with two needles. It is inserted as close as possible under the skin so that punctures can be made without difficulty. When placing a shunt, it is essential to pay attention to hygiene, as it is located inside the body (for example, under the skin) and any germs could thus cause serious damage to health. If, for example, a shunt is placed in the forearm because regular dialysis has to be performed, it usually takes some time for the patient to get used to the foreign body. As long as the shunt is in the body and in use, it must be monitored repeatedly to determine whether it is performing its function optimally.
Medical and health benefits
The primary function of the natural shunts present in the body of a fetus is to provide oxygen to the embryo. Because the lungs are collapsed at this point and there is no regular breathing, the shunts provide the necessary oxygen to the growing organism. Artificial shunts, as mentioned earlier, are usually used when the patient has renal insufficiency and therefore requires regular dialysis. In these cases, the shunt is vital because it is the only way to provide the necessary blood flow. In most cases, it is inserted in the forearm; if this is not possible, it can also be located in the neck. However, this usually means a restriction of the patient’s mobility and is usually perceived as more uncomfortable. So-called cerebral shunts have the no less important task of diverting excess cerebrospinal fluid via a tube into the abdominal cavity, thus reducing intracranial pressure. A shunt can also be placed in the case of some congenital heart defects in order to connect the arterial and venous circulation and thus significantly improve the oxygen supply.
