Overview Hydrocephalus is the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in spaces called ventricles deep within the brain. This buildup can make the ventricles larger and put pressure on the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid usually flows through the brain ventricles and around the brain and spinal column. When there's too much fluid, the pressure can harm brain tissue and lead to changes in thinking ...
The most common hydrocephalus treatment is a shunt — a flexible tube with a one-way valve. The valve helps drain extra fluid from the brain at the right speed and in the right direction.
Hydrocephalus care at Mayo Clinic Your Mayo Clinic care team. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists) and brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons) have extensive experience in treating hydrocephalus and related conditions. Doctors trained in treating children who have brain and nervous system conditions (pediatric neurologists) treat children ...
Adult-onset hydrocephalus Benjamin D. Elder, M.D., Ph.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, discusses adult-onset hydrocephalus, including idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Topics include: Diagnosis Treatment options Outcomes Complications Cerebral spinal fluid diversion ...
Ask your healthcare professional if you or your child should receive a vaccine against meningitis, once a common cause of hydrocephalus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends meningitis vaccination for preteen children and boosters for teenagers.
Idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) can be debilitating for people over age 60, yet it is underdiagnosed. Mayo Clinic is using cutting-edge technology to improve diagnosis and treatment approaches for this reversible condition.
Hydrocephalus, also called water in the brain, is a condition where there is an abnormal build up of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) in the cavities (ventricles) of the brain. The build-up is often caused ...