The condition is confirmed by a CT scan or other brain testing. We all produce a fluid that flows around the brain and spinal cord. Every day, we produce and reabsorb more fluid than the amount present at any moment. One cause of hydrocephalus is a block in the flow of this fluid. Another is a problem absorbing the fluid.
Surgery is the only treatment.
The surgeon usually places a tube, called a shunt, from the base of the brain to the abdomen or blood vessels near the heart. This allows the extra fluid to drain. Surgery can sometimes lead to infection or intestinal problems. As a child grows, he or she will need repeat surgery to lengthen the tube. If you have a newborn with hydrocephalus, he or she will undergo surgery within a few days.