Treatment: Shunts
Ventriculopleural shunt
A ventriculopleural shunt drains cerebrospinal fluid from a brain ventricle to the space around the lungs, used as an alternative drainage site.
In short: Ventriculopleural shunt
- It drains CSF from a ventricle to the pleural space (around the lungs).
- It is an alternative when other sites are not suitable.
- It is used less commonly than VP or VA shunts.
- The pleural space absorbs the diverted fluid.
What it is
A ventriculopleural shunt is a type of CSF shunt that drains cerebrospinal fluid from a brain ventricle to the pleural space — the space around the lungs, inside the chest. It is used as an alternative drainage site when others are not suitable.
Understanding Ventriculopleural shunt
In this shunt, the distal catheter ends in the pleural space, where the diverted CSF can be absorbed. It may be chosen when the abdomen and the heart/bloodstream routes are not good options — for example, due to prior surgery, scarring, infection, or other factors. Ventriculopleural shunts are used less commonly than VP or VA shunts and have specific considerations, including the potential for fluid to accumulate around the lung if drainage exceeds what the pleural space can absorb. As with all shunt choices, the decision is individualized, weighing the options for each person's situation.
Why it matters
Understanding the ventriculopleural shunt helps families see another alternative drainage site, reinforcing that the choice of where a shunt drains depends on the individual's circumstances when the usual sites are not suitable.
Common questions
Where does a ventriculopleural shunt drain to?
The pleural space around the lungs.
When is it used?
When other drainage sites are not suitable.
Is it commonly used?
Less commonly than VP or VA shunts.
Bottom line
A ventriculopleural shunt drains CSF from a ventricle to the space around the lungs, an alternative used when other sites are not suitable.
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