Brain cyst treatment with shunt (drainage) placement surgery

Shunt placement surgery is an effective method of brain cyst treatment. The operation involves implanting a drainage tube (shunt) into the cyst cavity to drain fluid and reduce pressure inside the skull. A shunt consists of catheters (thin tubes) and a valve. You can’t see the catheter because it’s under the skin. The shunt allows the cyst contents to go to another place in the body, for example, into the chest, abdominal cavity, or bladder. Here the cystic fluid is absorbed harmlessly into the body. After the liquid flows out of the cyst, its walls collapse. The shunt placement surgery is performed under general anesthesia and lasts about 1 hour. When you fall asleep, the doctor will shave off your hair in the part of the head where the incision will be made. Next, a hole is made in the skull, bringing a shunt to the brain. Then the doctor will make several tiny cuts on the head, neck, and stomach. These incisions will help to install the catheter correctly. Finally, the doctor will apply surgical stitches or braces to the incision. A day after the surgery, the patient receives an MRI to ensure the shunt is in place, freely located and performs its function.