Shunts (Neurosurgical): Infection and Malfunction
Clinical Pathways promote evidence based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.
Clinical Pathways:
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion for shunt infection:
- Patients with neurosurgical shunt who are status-post neurosurgical shunt surgery/revision, abdominal surgery, or peritonitis in the past six months.
Inclusion for shunt malfunction :
- Patients with a neurosurgical shunt with signs or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure.
Committee members involved in the development:
- C. Kaufman MD, FAANS | Neurosurgery | Committee chair
- L. Schroeder MD | Chief Medical Quality and Safety Officer | Committee member
- J. Michael DO | Evidence Based Practice Department & Emergency Medicine | Committee member
- J. Bartlett PhD, RN | Evidence Based Practice Department | Committee member
Publication dates:
- Finalized date: June 9, 2021
- Next expected revision date: June 2024
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These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.