Question

149. Following surgery for placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt as treatment for hydrocephalus, the parents question why the infant has a small abdominal incision. The best response by the nurse would be to explain that the incision was made in order to

A) Pass the catheter into the abdominal cavity
B) Place the tubing into the urinary bladder
C) Visualize abdominal organs for catheter placement
D) Insert the catheter into the stomach

Answer 1

The abdominal incision during a VP shunt placement is to pass the catheter into the abdominal cavity for draining excess CSF, which is crucial to avoid complications such as overdraining or underdraining.

Step-by-step explanation:

The small abdominal incision made during the surgery for the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt in hydrocephalus treatment is to pass the catheter into the abdominal cavity. This is necessary because the VP shunt consists of a tube that is inserted into the brain's ventricles to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through a one-way valve.

The fluid is then released into the abdominal cavity, where it can be reabsorbed by the bloodstream. It's important for the excess CSF to be properly drained to avoid complications such as overdraining or underdraining, which can respectively lead to ventricles collapsing or persistent neurological symptoms due to pressure on the brain.