Summary of CSF Shunt Flow Rates in Eighty Cases

Abstract

In the report published in the previous year, the authors have pointed out that the flow rate through the CSF shunting system would be greatly influenced by changes in patient’s postures. In this study, we have investigated the effect of the shunting procedures, 80 cases, and the varieties in flow rates as their positional changes being made. Among all the patients studied, 35 cases showed a comparatively satisfactory flow rates of more than 0.11 m//min in recumbent position, while other 45 cases demonstrated rather slow flow rates of less than 0.10 m//min in recumbent position. However, even those who such slow flow rates resulted in a favorable prognosis such as flow rate increase on head raising position and eventually decreasing in patient’s ventricular size as time passes. To facilitate an early recovery to normal life, it seemed important that the patients should be encouraged to be put in head raising and/or sitting position after the shunt systems are installed. In cases with continuing enlargement of the ventricles and whose flow rates were not increased in head raising, obstruction of the system was suspected. In cases whose flow rates were increased following head raising but who failed to show any reduction in the ventricular size nor clinical improvement, ventriculomegaly due to a severe damage to the cerebral parenchyma were to be considered.