Why is the operation to withdraw water from the head? How is it performed? And what are its risks? Here is the answer in the following article.
The process of withdrawing water from the head is one of the basic therapeutic procedures used to treat hydrocephalus, and through the following, the most important information about it will be clarified:
The process of drawing water from the head
The process of drawing water from the head is performed for people with hydrocephalus, a condition in which large amounts of cerebrospinal fluid accumulate in the brain cavities called ventricles, which leads to the generation of great pressure on brain tissues and thus damage them.
Thus, the process of withdrawing water from the head aims to reduce the pressure on the brain tissues by draining the cerebrospinal fluid accumulated in the ventricles of the brain, thus relieving the symptoms of sy.
Preparing for the process of drawing water from the head
The specialist doctor may ask to take into account several matters before performing the procedure of withdrawing water from the head in preparation for the surgery, the most prominent of which are:
Inform the doctor about any medications or treatments the patient is using.
Conducting some general examinations to evaluate the function of vital organs such as the heart, and assessing the general health of the patient. Examples of these examinations are: chest x-rays, electrocardiograms, and various laboratory blood tests.
Stop drinking or eating meals the night before surgery.
Stop any herbal remedies or supplements before a certain period that may be determined by your doctor before surgery.
Stop blood-thinning medications.
Stop taking vitamin E, to reduce the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Avoid using any hair care or styling products.
Avoid drinking alcohol.
Inform the doctor of any medical conditions or health problems, such as: allergies, sleep apnea, or heart problems.
Inform the doctor if the patient smokes.
How to perform the process of drawing water from the head
The process of withdrawing water from the head is usually performed under the influence of general anesthesia, and there are two basic methods for conducting it, which are as follows:
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
The process of withdrawing water from the head can be done using the endoscope technique by making a small hole in the head and ing very small endoscope tools to reach the deep ventricles of the brain up to the third ventricle, and then make a small hole or hole in it.
Thus, this method allows relieving pressure on brain tissue by diverting the flow of cerebrospinal fluid accumulated in the ventricle to other areas of the brain to be reabsorbed.
Sometimes, in conjunction with the third ventriculostomy procedure, the surgeon also cauterizes the choroid plexus (plexus cauterization), a group of vessels that produce cerebrospinal fluid. The aim is to further reduce pressure on brain tissue by reducing the amount of cerebrospinal fluid production.
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt
The ventriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common surgical procedures for the treatment of hydrocephalus, by which a device is implanted inside the body called the Shunt system that withdraws the cerebrospinal fluid that has accumulated in the ventricles and diverts its flow into the abdominal or chest cavity to be absorbed there.
The shunt device consists of three parts, namely
A short, flexible tube to drain fluid from the ventricles of the brain.
A one-way valve that keeps cerebrospinal fluid from flowing away from the brain.
A long tube to bring fluid accumulated in the brain into the abdominal cavity.
The process is generally carried out through the following steps
The surgeon makes an opening in the head, which may be at the top of the head.
A short tube is ed through it. One end of the tube is connected to the ventricles of the brain and the other end is attached to the valve.
The valve and the long tube are implanted under the skin, where the valve is placed behind the ear and one end of the long tube is threaded into it, and the other end of the tube extends into the abdominal cavity.
The shunt device can work either through the programmed system or the non-programmed system, and the doctor may suggest the appropriate system for each patient as required by his condition, in addition to the shunt device may remain inside the patient’s body for the rest of his life.
Risks and complications of the process of withdrawing water from the head
Despite the efficiency of water withdrawal operations from the head, the matter may not be without risks and serious consequences, like any surgical procedure.
In general, the risks and complications associated with the extraction of water from the head are divided as follows:
1. Risks related to surgery and general anesthesia
They include the following:
blood clots
Infection.
Bleeding
Respiratory disorders.
Allergic reactions to medications.
2. Risks of ventriculoperitoneal shunt
These risks include the following:
brain swelling
Brain bleeding.
brain clots
Leakage of cerebrospinal fluid under the skin.
Brain tissue damage.
Infection of the brain, intestine, or shunt system.
Mechanical failures in the shunt device.
Bowel perforation.
epileptic seizures
3. Risks of the third cerebral ventriculostomy
As for the process of opening the third cerebral ventricle, its risks include the following:
Bleeding
fever.
Infection.
Brain tissue damage.
