Surgical Shunt Placement After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Surgical Shunt Placement After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Surgical shunt placement could be a necessary treatment after someone suffers a traumatic brain injury. A TBI is always a severe injury and deserves the attention of a trained medical professional. Neurologic damage has the potential to cause lifelong complications and requires a well-rounded treatment approach. Some of the components of TBI treatment include:

• Medical management to control issues such as chronic pain, blood pressure irregularities, and even memory loss.
• Trained therapists and specialists who can work to restore motor function that might have been lost.
• Consultation with mental health professionals who can manage issues such as depression and anxiety.
• Potential surgery to relieve increased intracranial pressure.

In some cases, individuals might need to have a surgical shunt placed.

The Role of a Surgical Shunt Following a Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the most significant complications of a traumatic brain injury is increased intracranial pressure. This can result from an increased liquid in the skull cavity or from swelling of the brain tissue itself. An obstruction could develop within the brain following a TBI. This obstruction could result in an increased amount of fluid (called CSF) within the skull. The job of a surgical shunt is to drain this fluid. Some of the essential points regarding a surgical shunt include:

• This shunt is placed by a trained neurosurgeon.
• The shunt moves CSF from the brain to a separate location in the body to bypass the obstruction.
• Some of the common locations for the endpoint of the shunt include the heart (a VA shunt) and the abdomen (a VP shunt).

As with any surgical procedure, some complications could develop following shunt placement.

Watch YouTube Video: Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery: What to Expect. In the following video, Dr. Peter Nakaji with the Barrow Neurological Institute discusses how ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery can help relieve pressure on the brain.

Potential Complications of an Intracerebral Surgical Shunt

Brain surgery always carries its risks. While these risks are sometimes necessary, everyone should be aware of complications. Some of the potential complications of a surgical shunt include:

• Possible blood loss that could occur during the procedure.
• A possible allergic reaction to the anesthesia.
• The development of an infection of either the brain or the shunt itself.
• Possible damage to the brain tissue near the shunt.

Steps are taken to minimize the development of these complications. If placed correctly, the shunt should help reduce the intracranial pressure.

Contacting a Brain Injury Lawyer

Brain surgery can be a scary event for families to process. Sometimes, there are lingering questions with which families deserve help. This is where a Yuba City Brain Injury Lawyer can provide crucial assistance. A compassionate brain injury lawyer can help families review the records from the accident, seek damages related to the injury, and even move the case to trial if needed. Families should never feel obligated to face this tough situation alone. Reach out to a brain injury lawyer in Yuba City today. You could be deserving of a financial reward.

Yuba City Brain Injury Lawyers

I’m Ed Smith, a Yuba City Brain Injury Lawyer. Emergency surgery could be required following a traumatic brain injury. If you or someone you love has needed surgery for a brain injury after a traumatic accident, please give me a call at (800) 404-5400 or (530) 392-9400 for free, friendly legal advice.

I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and in the Top One Percent, a National Association of Distinguished Counsel.

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