Prospective Shunt Complication Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Complications in patients with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are common. Thus, these patients are frequently admitted for suspicion of a shunt dysfunction (SD). However, the symptoms of a SD are often unspecific and the required diagnostics are time consuming, expensive, invasive and may involve radiation exposure. In a prospective observational study it is planned to find out, how often a suspected shunt dysfunction is found, which kinds of shunt dysfunction are seen and if there is a correlation between the shunt dysfunctions and the age of the shunt. Furthermore, it is intended to find out, if there are symptom-patterns specific for certain shunt dysfunctions.

Detailed Description
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All patients who are admitted for suspected shunt-dysfunction will be included. Patient data, detailed data about the shunt, patient's symptoms and all findings will be recorded in the CRF. After 4-8 weeks all patients will be followed-up to add missing data and correct initial findings with the benefit of a retrospective view. After 2 years, data will be analyzed.

Official Title
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Prospective Shunt Complication Study (Pro-ShuCS)

Conditions
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Shunt; Complications, Ventricular (Communicating)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Procedure: CSF Shunt treatment for hydrocephalus


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age >= 18 State after implantation of a CSF shunt Exclusion Criteria: refusion participation in the study

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Procedure: CSF Shunt treatment for hydrocephalus|State after CSF shunt implantation|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Confirmation of Shunt Dysfunction (yes/no) | The correctness of the suspected diagnosis of a shunt dysfunction | 4-8 weeks after first presentation | 
| Kind of Shunt Dysfunction (infection/disruption/kinking/obstruction/others) | In case of a confirmed shunt dysfunction, the kind of dysfunction is recorded | 4-8 weeks after first presentation | 
| Alternate Diagnosis (multiple diagnoses possible) | If the suspected diagnosis of a shunt dysfunction is not approved, the alternate diagnosis leading to the patient's symptoms is recorded. Every possible medical disorder might lead to presentation of the patient. Thus, no catalogue of possible diagnoses is given. | 4-8 weeks after first presentation | 
| Time Span after Shunt Implantation (months) | Certain kinds of shunt dysfunctions seem to appear at a certain age of a shunt. The time after implantation/last revision of the shunt is recorded. The age of the shunt / time span after first implantation is measured in months. | 4-8 weeks after first presentation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Shunt, CSF, Dysfunction, Complication