Posture-related overdrainage: comparison of the performance of 10 hydrocephalus shunts in vitro

Approximately 10 to 30% of shunt revisions may be attributed to posture-related overdrainage. The susceptibility of various hydrocephalus shunts to overdrainage of cerebrospinal fluid requires independent laboratory evaluation.

Shunts were tested in vitro by using precise computer-controlled equipment that was able to evaluate pressure-flow performance curves under various conditions. Hydrodynamic resistance and opening, closing, and operational pressures were evaluated for at least 28 days with normal (atmospheric) and decreased (-23 mm Hg, based on the International Standard Organization/Draft International Standard 7197 standard, which simulates conditions in upright body positions) outlet pressures.

Ten different models of valves have been tested to date (Medtronic PS Medical Delta valve, flow-control valve, and lumboperitoneal shunt, Heyer-Schulte in-line, low-profile, and Pudenz flushing valves, Codman-Medos programmable and nonprogrammable valves, Sophy programmable valve, and Cordis Orbis-Sigma valve). The majority of these valves produced significantly negative (less than -10 mm Hg) average intracranial pressures in vertical body positions. In conjunction with nonphysiologically low hydrodynamic resistance (with the exception of the Orbis-Sigma valve, Medtronic PS Medical lumboperitoneal shunt, and Heyer-Schulte in-line valve), this may result in overdrainage related to body posture. The clinically reported rate of complications related to overdrainage is probably reduced by the long distal catheter, which increases the resistance of these valves by 100 to 200%. A few shunts (the Delta valve, low-profile valve, and Pudenz flushing valve with anti-siphon devices) offer reasonable resistance to negative outlet pressure, preventing complications related to overdrainage, but all valves with siphon-preventing devices may be blocked by increased subcutaneous pressure.

Shunts without mechanisms preventing very low intracranial pressure in vertical body positions should be identified and avoided for patients likely to develop complications related to cerebrospinal fluid overdrainage.