Skip to main content

Ventricular Shunt Obstruction/Infection — Imaging Recommendations — Clinical Pathway: Emergency, ICU and Inpatient

Ventricular Shunt Obstruction/Infection Clinical Pathway — Emergency, ICU and Inpatient

Imaging Recommendations

Brain CT
  • Ultra low-dose helical protocol (actual parameters age and/or weight dependent)
  • Scout lateral radiograph to include entire neck to clavicles
Limited Shunt Radiograph(s)
  • Single AP or PA radiograph(s) of chest and abdomen
  • Indications for shunt radiograph(s):
    • Localized swelling or pain along the shunt tubing
    • Distal erosions (rare) with shunt tubing present outside the body
    • To assist with shunt revision at request of Neurosurgery team
Abdominal Ultrasound
  • Consider if abdominal symptoms to evaluate for pseudocyst
  • Patients with sensory deficit (e.g., myelomeningocele) may have unreliable abdominal examination

 

Jump back to top