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Pastimes : Let's Talk About Our Feelings!!!
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To: Grainne who wrote (2472)1/29/1997 2:56:00 AM
From: William T. Katz   of 108807
 
Christine, I have no intention of letting the strife over there filter to this thread. I also do not regard people on this thread as "touchy feely."

Regarding your medical questions, I can give some opinion with the caveat that I am in research and am not a practicing neurosurgeon. [No need to state this. If I were a practicing neurosurgeon, I'd be in the hospital or in bed, certainly not posting in SI] In fact, I have changed my profile to remove any reference to degrees given the negative feelings it seemed to invoke (curious effect).

First, is it normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH)? If it is, in 40-70% of the cases in which a ventricular-peritoneal shunt is used, the patient will have improved quality of life. This is typically manifested as better gait with less effect on dementia if it is present.

Judging from your questions on contributing factors and genetics, though, I would imagine you are talking about a developmental disorder form of hydrocephalus. So you'd have to check whether it is a communicating or non-communicating form of hydrocephalus. There are lots of possible causes in each type of hydrocephalus, some of which are genetic. Quality of life can be decent after a well-placed shunt ... life expectancy is totally dependent on what causes the hydrocephalus. If someone talks about a shunt, they typically have a good reason for placing it and the quality of life without it might be assumed to be much less (or extinguished) compared to quality with the shunt. That's just my 2 cents. I won't offer anything more because I haven't been involved with a shunt in 2 years and I haven't looked at any history/imaging/etc. I'd be much more helpful in the case of stereotactic neurosurgery. :) Hope whoever you are thinking of does well.

-Bill
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