What is postoperative care for a VP shunt?

Incision care Wash your incision areas daily with warm, soapy water, and gently pat them dry. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing. You may cover the areas with a gauze bandage if they weep or rub against clothing. Change the bandages every day.

How do you care for a Ventriculoperitoneal shunt?

Do not shower or shampoo your child’s head until the stitches and staples have been taken out. Give your child a sponge bath instead. The wound should not soak in water until the skin is completely healed. Do not push on the part of the shunt that you can feel or see underneath your child’s skin behind the ear.

What exercises can you do with a VP shunt?

Gymnastics and dance. An excellent activity to improve balance, coordination and fitness, this should be fine for people with VP shunts. Shunts won’t drain when the head is lower than the distal (bottom) end of the shunt, so being upside down for any length of time will usually be very uncomfortable, and best avoided.

How long is recovery after a VP shunt?

Recovery from a VP shunt placement takes three to four days. Most people can leave the hospital within seven days after the procedure. During your hospitalization, the hospital staff will monitor your heart rate and blood pressure, and your doctor will administer preventive antibiotics.

How long are you in the hospital after shunt surgery?

About the Shunt Operation The actual surgical procedure to implant a shunt typically requires about an hour in the operating room. Afterward, you will be carefully observed for 24 hours. Your stay in the hospital will generally be for two to four days total.

How long does a VP shunt stay in?

It is difficult to predict how long shunts will last, but some practitioners note that about half of all shunts need to be revised or replaced after 6 years.

Does walking help hydrocephalus?

Slow, gentle exercises such as tai chi, chair yoga, and water exercise are less likely to cause falls and injuries. Exercise bikes and elliptical machines are also good options, as are activities that allow you to grab bars or handles to reduce the risk of falling. Walking is also a good activity, even with a walker.

Can you live a normal life with a VP shunt?

Many people with normal pressure hydrocephalus enjoy a normal life with the help of a shunt. Regular, ongoing checkups with the neurosurgeon will help ensure that your shunt is working correctly, your progress is on track, and you are free to keep living the way you want.

Can you drive with a VP shunt?

You should continue to gradually increase your activity and walking within and outside the home is encouraged. You are not allowed to drive a car.