Treatment: Shunts
Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt
A lumboperitoneal shunt drains cerebrospinal fluid from the lower spine to the abdomen, used mainly for communicating hydrocephalus and related conditions.
In short: Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt
- It drains CSF from the lumbar (lower) spine to the abdomen.
- It does not require a catheter in the brain.
- It is used mainly for communicating hydrocephalus and related conditions.
- It is suitable only when CSF pathways communicate freely.
What it is
A lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt is a type of CSF shunt that drains cerebrospinal fluid from the subarachnoid space in the lower (lumbar) spine to the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen. Unlike ventricular shunts, it does not require a catheter placed into the brain.
Understanding Lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt
An LP shunt diverts CSF from the lower spine rather than the ventricles, which avoids placing a catheter in the brain. It is suitable only for communicating hydrocephalus and related conditions (such as idiopathic intracranial hypertension), where CSF flows freely between the ventricles and the spinal subarachnoid space — it would not relieve an obstruction inside the ventricles. LP shunts have specific considerations, including the potential for overdrainage and challenges in adjusting and assessing them. The choice to use an LP shunt depends on the type of hydrocephalus and the individual situation; it is one of several shunt options.
Why it matters
Understanding the LP shunt helps families see an option that drains from the spine rather than the brain, suitable for communicating hydrocephalus, and why it is only appropriate when the CSF pathways communicate freely.
Common questions
Where does an LP shunt drain from and to?
From the lower spine to the abdomen.
Does it require a brain catheter?
No.
When is it suitable?
For communicating hydrocephalus and related conditions, not obstruction inside the ventricles.
Bottom line
A lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt drains CSF from the lower spine to the abdomen, used for communicating hydrocephalus when CSF pathways communicate freely.
Browse all 265 Hydrocephalus definitions
Read the Hydrocephalus patient guides
Not sure which page you need? Put words to it with the symptom navigator