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Procedures

Hydrocephalus is treated through surgery by creating a way for the excess fluid to drain away. An external ventricular drain (EVD), also known as an extraventricular drain or ventriculostomy, provides relief in the short term. In the long term, some people will need any of the various types of cerebral shunts. It involves the placement of a ventricular catheter (a tube made of silastic) into the cerebral ventricles. This creates a way to bypass the flow obstruction/malfunctioning arachnoidal granulations. The excess fluid drains into other body cavities where it can be resorbed. Most shunts drain the fluid into the peritoneal cavity (ventriculoperitoneal shunt). Other shunts drain the fluid into the right atrium (ventriculoatrial shunt), pleural cavity (ventriculopleural shunt), and gallbladder.