Our neurosurgery team includes dedicated nurses, anesthesiologists and technicians with experience in caring for children with hydrocephalus.

Characterized by excess fluid on the brain, hydrocephalus affects 1 in 2,000 children.

At the Hough Family Institute for Brain Protection Sciences at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, we provide the latest treatment options, including endoscopic techniques. We begin by providing a comprehensive neurological evaluation, then our medical experts design a care plan tailored to meet the unique needs of your child.

Treatment

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is the surgical placement of a shunt to divert cerebral spinal fluid away from the brain so it can be absorbed in the circulatory process. The abdominal cavity or a chamber of the heart, called the atria, are the most common locations for the catheter to drain, although other locations in the body also can be used.

For those children who are candidates, endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) provides a minimally invasive surgical diversion of fluid without placement of a permanent shunt tube, which is another option to train the fluid. We are the only center in the state of Florida trained for shunt diversion and ETV with coagulation of the choroid plexus. We offer four types of shunt diversion.

While the care and management of hydrocephalus may initially be a bit overwhelming, children with shunts can live active, normal lives. Parents and families can take comfort knowing that our team of pediatric specialists will provide exceptional care and support throughout their child's treatment.