Computational Assessment of Risk of Subdural Hematoma Associated with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid within the brain. The condition yields increased pressure inside the skull. When excess cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles of the brain, ventriculoperitoneal (cerebral) shunt is routinely implanted. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt redirects fluid from the ventricles to the abdominal cavity. However, the ventriculoperitoneal shunt is sometimes associated with several complications, e.g. subdural hematoma. A subdural hematoma is a collection of blood outside the brain caused by the sudden shrinkage of the brain as the cerebrospinal fluid is drained away by the shunt implant. However, the mechanism of the development of subdura hematoma remains not entirely clear due to the dynamic alterations between cerebrospinal fluid, intraparenchyma, and ventricular pressure. Therefore, we aim to establish a model to simulate this interaction to understand the mechanism.