What Is a Shunt?
September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month, and I am starting a new series to answer common questions about hydrocephalus, shunts, brain surgery, and what living with this condition is actually like.
First, a Personal Shunt Update
I saw my neurosurgeon today, and I received great news: my shunt looks intact, there are no signs of a blockage, and its current setting should now be considered my baseline.
Did I remember to ask what that setting is? Of course not.
Thankfully, it is documented in my medical records. I will update this post once I receive them.
My shunt uses a Codman Hakim programmable valve, which I will explain in more detail later in this series but let's start with the basics...
What Is a Shunt?
A shunt is a medical device surgically implanted to treat hydrocephalus.
Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid—commonly called CSF—builds up inside the brain’s ventricles. CSF normally flows through and around the brain and spinal cord, helping protect the brain, deliver nutrients, and remove waste.
When that fluid cannot circulate or drain properly, it can build up and increase pressure inside the skull. If left untreated, that pressure can damage the brain and become life-threatening.
A shunt gives the excess fluid another pathway to drain.
What Are the Parts of a Shunt?
A typical shunt system has three main components:
A catheter placed inside one of the brain’s ventricles
A valve that controls the flow of fluid
A second catheter that carries the fluid to another area of the body, where it can be absorbed
I have a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, also called a VP shunt. It drains excess CSF from my brain into my abdominal cavity, where my body absorbs it.
The entire system is implanted beneath my skin. I can feel the valve beneath my scalp and the tubing as it travels behind my ear and down my neck.
Does a Shunt Cure Hydrocephalus?
No. A shunt treats hydrocephalus, but it does not cure it.
For many of us, a shunt is a lifelong medical device. It manages the buildup of fluid and helps control pressure, but the underlying condition is still there.
Someone with a shunt may look healthy, work, travel, exercise, raise a family, and live a full life. That does not change the fact that they depend on a medical device inside their body.
My shunt has been responsible for multiple brain surgeries and some of the most traumatic moments of my life. It is also the device helping keep me alive.
Today, mine is looking great—and after everything I have survived, that is something worth celebrating.
In the next posts in this series, I will discuss programmable shunt valves, shunt settings, revisions, warning signs of a malfunction, and other questions people often have about life with a shunt.
Because shunt happens—and awareness begins with understanding the basics.
This post shares my personal experience and general educational information. It is not medical advice. Always contact your medical team about questions or concerns involving your shunt.
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