Treatment: Shunts
Programmable (adjustable) valve
A programmable valve is a shunt valve whose drainage setting can be adjusted non-invasively after surgery, allowing fine-tuning without another operation.
In short: Programmable (adjustable) valve
- Its setting can be changed without surgery.
- It allows fine-tuning of drainage over time.
- The setting is adjusted using a special device.
- Some types can be affected by strong magnets, including MRI.
What it is
A programmable (adjustable) valve is a shunt valve whose pressure setting can be changed non-invasively — without surgery — after it has been implanted. This allows the drainage to be adjusted over time to suit the person's needs.
Understanding Programmable (adjustable) valve
Using a special external device placed over the valve, a clinician can change the valve's setting, increasing or decreasing how readily it drains. This is valuable because the ideal amount of drainage can be hard to predict and may change, and adjusting a programmable valve can address overdrainage or underdrainage without another operation. A consideration with some programmable valves is that strong magnetic fields — including from MRI scanners and some magnets — can change the setting, so the setting is checked (and reset if needed) after MRI for these valve types; many newer valves are designed to resist this. The choice to use a programmable valve is individualized.
Why it matters
Understanding the programmable valve helps families see how drainage can be fine-tuned without surgery, and why, for some valve types, the setting is checked after MRI to ensure it has not changed.
Common questions
What is special about a programmable valve?
Its setting can be adjusted without surgery.
Why is that useful?
It allows fine-tuning of drainage to address over- or underdrainage.
Can MRI affect it?
Some types can be affected by strong magnets, so the setting is checked after MRI.
Bottom line
A programmable valve allows the drainage setting to be adjusted non-invasively after surgery, with some types requiring a setting check after MRI.
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