Shunts And Hydrocephalus Irregardless of the cause, the pressure of the spinal fluid with the ventricles must be relieved to prevent damage to the brain. A shunt is a narrow tube which is placed in the ventricles of the brain for the purpose of draining excess spinal fluid. The shunt runs under the skin along the scalp and neck and empties into the abdominal peritoneal cavity whereby the fluid can be absorbed by the body.
Many premature babies develop intraventricular hemorrhages.
If the hemorrhage is severe enough, a blood clot forms after the bleeding. The clot causes a blockage in the normal flow of spinal fluid around and within the brain and spinal cord by obstructing the ventricles. When there is an obstruction, the fluid builds up, causing the baby's fontanel to become full and tense. This makes the head circumference grow at a faster than normal rate. Pressure continues to increase within the ventricles, and if not relieved.