Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are small plastic tubes. They help treat hydrocephalus, a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inside the brain's ventricles. Surgeons use them to drain the extra CSF to an area deep inside the belly called the peritoneum.

Follow your surgeon's instructions for:

• when your child can eat and drink
• giving pain medicines
• continuing any medicines your child was on before the shunt was placed
• when your child can bathe
• when your child can return to school, regular activities, and sports
• when your child can use a hair dryer and hair products
• any activities your child should avoid
• taking your child to physical therapy (PT)
• follow-up appointments

• Your child has:
  • headaches that are different from usual or that don't go away with acetaminophen or ibuprofen
  • a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
  • nausea or vomiting
  • confusion or changes in behavior
  • trouble feeding or walking
  • unusual sleepiness or fussiness
  • a bulging soft spot (in babies)
  • redness, tenderness, or fluid leaking around the area where the surgery was done
  • redness or tenderness of the skin that covers the shunt tubing 

Your child:

• gets a severe headache or a stiff neck
• has vision problems
• has changes in eye movements (can't look up) 
• can't be woken
• has a seizure

How do VP shunts work? Most VP shunts are thin plastic tubes connected with a valve. One end of the tube is in a ventricle of the brain. The other end passes out of the ventricle and goes under the skin down into the peritoneum. The valve opens when the pressure in the brain gets too high. This lets CSF drain from the brain into the peritoneum. From there, it's absorbed into the bloodstream and filtered out in the kidneys. Then the body can pee out the extra fluid.

What can go wrong with a VP shunt? A shunt can get blocked or infected, or it can stop working. So it's important to follow your surgeon's instructions for when to call and when to go to the ER.