I just heard this happened to a family member when they were born, but no one told me the reason. can anyone help?
2006-08-05 16:00:45 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Most likely the baby had hydrocephalus (water on the brain) caused by too much csf (cerebrospinal fluid) . A shunt is placed inside the babies brain to drain the excess fluid and a tube is run under the skin to the abdomen where the fluid is absorbed . Another option is a reservoir where a balloon is put under the skin in the brain when it is filled the doctor uses a needle to drain the balloon. My son has this condition.
2006-08-05 16:10:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If a baby has hydrocephalus, then a tube, called a shunt, would be placed in the head and usually 'snaked' down into the abdomen where excessive cerebral fluid would drain. This keeps the internal pressure on the brain low and prevents brain damage.
2006-08-06 15:18:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a shunt? If you are talking about a tube that goes from the head down into the abdomen? A shunt is for babies that have fluid on the brain if the fluid is left on the brain it will kill the baby the shunt moves the fluid off the brain and down into the abdomen. A person with a shunt will have it for life and on occasion the shunt has to be replaced with a new one.
2006-08-05 16:20:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the baby has fluid on the brain and the doctors put a "shunt"in to drain the fluid out to stop the pressure on the brain
2006-08-05 16:06:03 · answer #4 · answered by traceylolanna 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could also be an IV.
Our son was in the NICU for 17 days, and the veins of anyone are very delicate. An adult can expect an IV to last a max of 2 days before the veins start to react; think of what it would do with babies. They constantly have to move around the IV. He had to everywhere, including his head. It looks funny, but it really does help.
2006-08-05 17:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only reason I know of to stick a tube in someone head is to re leave pressure off the brain from swelling!! By doing so it will keep from having any brain damage
2006-08-05 16:06:25 · answer #6 · answered by dustyskylark68 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
was it during the birth??? if so it could have been a probe to monitor the baby's vital signs because the monitor on mommy's belly wasn't picking up well enough....
it could have been a shunt as mention above....
how old is this family member... might help determine the"era" of medical devices...
does this family member still have the tube??
need more info really
2006-08-05 16:50:45 · answer #7 · answered by sandia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The baby has too much spinal fluid on his brain. It needs to be drained off some or the baby will get brain damage.
Its called a shunt.
2006-08-05 16:04:50 · answer #8 · answered by Lisa the Pooh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible they placed a shunt? If the person was born with hydrocephilus, the spinal fluid doesn't drain properly. A shunt is placed to help the fluid drain.
2006-08-05 16:07:15 · answer #9 · answered by Erin S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was probably the sucion cup, they use to pull the baby out of the uterus. It could also be used to drain excess fluid from the brain. It's one of them.
2006-08-05 16:04:10 · answer #10 · answered by ~ ♥ Sun$hine ♥ ~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋