Treatment Options for Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus

A commonly used treatment for normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is surgery to place a tube, called a shunt, into the brain to drain the excess fluid. The shunt is usually inserted into a ventricle in the brain and then passed under your skin from your head through your neck and chest to your abdomen. The extra fluid in your brain flows through the shunt into your abdomen, where your body absorbs it. The ventricles in your brain may then go back to their normal size.

If symptoms are mild, sometimes a shunt can help improve gait changes and incontinence. Cognitive symptoms are typically not reversed by a shunt.

Implanting a shunt doesn’t work for everyone, but some people do benefit from it. Getting prompt diagnosis and treatment helps improve your chances of a good outcome.

Managing normal pressure hydrocephalus

Shunt placement can lead to bleeding and infection so it’s important that you and your family are aware of these possible complications. If you have this surgery, be sure to follow all of your doctor’s directions and keep any follow-up appointments to make sure it's working properly.