Treatment of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)

Successful candidates for treatment are identified during diagnostic testing. The most successful treatment for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) involves the surgical placement of a shunt, which diverts the flow of the excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to the abdomen where it is harmlessly reabsorbed into the bloodstream. If CSF fluid builds up, a one-way valve in the shunt opens up and allows the excess fluid to drain away thereby regulating the pressure in the brain. Shunts vary in size and pressure at which the one-way valve opens, so they must be monitored and adjusted on a regular basis. With older style shunts patients had to undergo surgery in order to have the shunt adjusted, however newer shunt technology allows physicians to set the pressure using a programmable valve that can be magnetically adjusted in an office setting, thereby eliminating the need for extra surgery.