CSF (Cerebrospinal Fluid) Shunting for Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome

Ventriculo-cisternostomy was first introduced by Arne Torkildsen in 1937. This technique, consisting of a simple shunt tube without valves, was an advance over previous methods because cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was shunted to and from spaces that normally contained CSF. In the 1950's, development of functional one-way valves led to the introduction of ventriculo-venous shunting techniques. All shunts are pressure-regulated and generally employ slit, spring-ball or diaphragm valves. Lumboperitoneal shunting (LPS) has the advantage over ventricular procedures of minimizing intracranial complications and has also been shown to have a lower incidence of infection and malfunction. LPS, however, is not appropriate for the treatment of non-communicating hydrocephalus and also carries a higher incidence of complications in children than in adults. Possible indications for LPS include communicating hydrocephalus, CSF fistula and pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (PTC).