Hydrocephalus

A buildup of fluids in your brain can permanently damage it if not properly treated. As a leader in the treatment of hydrocephalus, Aizik L. Wolf, MD, uses advanced surgical techniques to drain away excess fluids out of the brain into other areas of your body. While there’s currently no cure for hydrocephalus, Dr. Wolf focuses on relieving your symptoms and protecting the long-term health of your brain. Call the office in South Miami, Florida, to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for signs of hydrocephalus in you or your child, or book an appointment online today.

Hydrocephalus is a condition where excess fluid builds up in your brain’s (ventricles) and subarachnoid space.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) travels through your brain’s ventricular system. This fluid protects your brain and spinal cord from injury, provides nutrients to your brain tissue, and removes waste materials from your brain. When excess CFS builds up, it causes your brain cavities to widen and put pressure on your brain.

Hydrocephalus is more common in adults over 60 and infants. One in 1,000 infants is born with the condition.

What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus?

Symptoms of hydrocephalus vary in adults, children, and infants. Children and adults with hydrocephalus may experience:

• Seizures
• Shuffling gait
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Leg weakness
• Bladder incontinence
• Mood and personality changes

If you have any of these issues, schedule a diagnostic evaluation with Aizik L. Wolf, MD. Dr. Wolf offers comprehensive diagnostic testing services and customizes a care plan to treat your condition.

How is hydrocephalus treated?

As a leader in the treatment of hydrocephalus, Dr. Wolf specializes in surgical techniques that relieve pressure on the brain by draining away excess fluids. While there’s no cure for hydrocephalus, surgery provides excellent results and is the standard treatment.

Dr. Wolf offers surgery for the treatment of hydrocephalus:

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt system

Your VP Shunt surgery takes less than an hour in the Operating Room and is performed under general anesthesia.

During the surgery, Dr. Wolf implants a small valve and flexible tube into the ventricle of your brain to drain excess fluid. The tube transports CSF to your abdomen for natural reabsorption.

Dr. Wolf inserts a catheter through a small hole. A second catheter runs from the hole behind your ear to your abdomen. A valve in the shunt helps maintain healthy brain pressure and drains away fluids. As the shunt drains excess CSF and lessens the pressure in your brain, some symptoms will stop right away others may take a few weeks to go away.

Call the office of Aizik L. Wolf, MD, to learn more about surgical treatments for hydrocephalus, or book an appointment online today.