Codman hakim shunt

INTRODUCTION: Since the introduction of the first ventricular shunt in 1949, the cerebrospinal shunts are the most used choice for the management of hydrocephalus in children. With the technological advance, systems have been developing increasingly sophisticated. Our aim is to study the incidence of complications after the implantation of these shunts and the variables associated to it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We perform a retrospective study between 1981 and 2006, gathering the patients between 0 and 15 years treated at our Hospital for the placement of a cerebrospinal shunt or as consequence of a problem of the device...

OBJECT: Exposing patients with ventricular shunts to magnetic fields and MR imaging procedures poses a significant risk of unintentional changes in shunt settings. Shunt valves can also generate considerable imaging artifacts. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnetic field safety and MR imaging compatibility of 5 adjustable models of hydrocephalus shunts. METHODS: The Codman Hakim (regular and with SiphonGuard), Miethke ProGAV, Medtronic Strata, Sophysa Sophy and Polaris programmable valves were tested in a low-intensity magnetic field, and then translational attraction (TA), magnetic torque (MT), and volume of artifacts on T1-weighted spin echo (SE) and gradient echo (GE) pulse sequences in a 3-T MR imaging unit were measured...

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a syndrome characterized by gait disturbance, dementia, and/or urinary incontinence without causative disorders, and ventricular enlargement due to disturbed CSF circulation. The diagnosis of iNPH in the elderly remains a substantial issue, and the treatment is not always adequately provided. Many patients with possibly curable INPH often are misdiagnosed as having AD or vascular dementia. Recognition of INPH in those patients is of great importance. Here, some key clinical and neuroimaging features distinctive from other dementia are discussed...

OBJECT: In patients with hydrocephalus, the pressure settings of a Medos Hakim programmable valve may require adjustments even months after implantation. In some cases, however, adjustment proves to be impossible. The object of this study was to illuminate the reasons for reprogramming failures. METHODS: Data pertaining to the authors' experience with programmable valves at their clinic were obtained through retrospective review of patient records from 1992 to 1998 and prospectively collected from 1998 to 2006...

A magnetically programmable cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt valve (Codman Hakim Programmable Valve, Codman, a Johnson & Johnson Company, Raynham, MA) was assessed for magnetic field interactions, heating, artifacts and functional changes at 3-Tesla. The programmable valve showed minor magnetic field interactions and heating (+0.4 degrees C). Artifacts were relatively large in relation to the size and shape of this implant and, as such, may create a problem if the area of interest is in proximity to this implant...

Codman-Hakim programmable valves allow neurosurgeons to adjust the opening pressure to the patient's particular clinical needs. However, the pressure control cam is extremely small, so identification of the pressure indicator and its operation is somewhat difficult when initially setting the opening pressure before implantation. We employed a commercial loupe on the program transmitter unit to sufficiently enlarge the view of the cam for clear identification. We recommend that the manufacturer to incorporate a loupe to provide a more sophisticated product...

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that pumping a shunt in situ may precipitate a proximal occlusion, and/or lead to ventricular over-drainage, particularly in the context of small ventricles. In the laboratory we measured the effect of pumping the pre-chamber of hydrocephalus shunts on intracranial hypotension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A simple physical model of the CSF space in a hydrocephalic patient was constructed with appropriate compliance, CSF production and circulation...

Although the Codman Hakim programmable valve (CHPV) system is popular, several problems arising from its design have been described. The authors report an additional cause of shunt failure associated with the use of the CHPV system. A 7-year-old girl who had previously undergone placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with the CHPV system was admitted in a comatose state. Radiography did not demonstrate any breakage or change in the opening pressure of the valve. Manual pumping of the valve resulted in neurological improvement and shrinkage of the girl's ventricles...

A 70-year-old man presented with dizziness, headache and hearing loss. He was admitted to our hospital because of increasing unsteadiness of gait. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed meningeal thickening with enhancement. The lumbar puncture revealed high opening pressure. The cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis, high carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) concentration, and presence of neoplastic cells, leading to the diagnosis of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. Systemic investigation for primary neoplasm identified a Bormman type 3 gastric cancer (papillary adenocarcinoma with micropapillary pattern)...

A 7-year-old girl presented in semicomatose condition. She had received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt using a Codman-Hakim programmable valve. Head computed tomography demonstrated hydrocephalus and head radiography showed that the pressure setting of the shunt valve had changed to 60 mmH(2)O from 40 mmH(2)O. The pressure setting was returned to 40 mmH(2)O, and she was discharged because her clinical symptoms and hydrocephalus improved. One month later, she lost consciousness again and was transported to our hospital...

Thirty-two patients with normal-pressure hydrocephalus were managed using the lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt system in which the Codman Hakim programmable valve was utilized. The initial opening pressure was set at 100 mm H(2)O in three cases, 80 mm H(2)O in two, 70 mm H(2)O in three cases, 50 mm H(2)O in 23, and 30 mm H(2)O in one case (mean pressure 57.8 mm H(2)O). In 12 patients the valve pressure required reprogramming. The final valve pressure was 30 mm H(2)O in four cases, 50 mm H(2)O in 19, 70 mm H(2)O in three, 80 mm H(2)O in one, 100 mm H(2)O in two, 130 mm H(2)O in one, 140 mm H(2)O in one, and 170 mm H(2)O in one case (mean 62...

Shunt systems with differential pressure valves are prone to the complications of overdrainage. A programmable valve permits adjustment of the opening pressure of the valve. In this paper the authors report the incidence of subdural fluid collections in a randomized trial of programmable compared with conventional valves, and they describe methodologies used in management of this complication. A multiinstitutional, prospective, randomized trial of the Codman Hakim programmable valve and conventional fixed-pressure valves was undertaken...

The purpose of this study was to describe a patient, 7-month-old child with ventriculoperitoneal shunts for hydrocephalus with ventriculitis caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Two ventriculoperitoneal shunts were inserted just after birth and on the second month. On the sixth month, both shunts were removed because of dysfunction, and external drainage was inserted. The child developed fever, and lumbar puncture revealed a high leukocyte count and protein concentration after external drainage...

INTRODUCTION: Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the most commonly used method for the treatment of paediatric hydrocephalus. The programmable valve with the ability to adjust the opening pressure non-invasively has made it easier to find exactly the right opening pressure for each child and reduce the risk of over- or under-drainage. The aim of this investigation was to study our clinical experience with the adult Codman Hakim programmable valve in children, with reference to complications and economic impact...

OBJECT: This study investigated the changes in the valve pressure setting of several magnetic pressure-programmable valves after exposure to a 3-tesla magnetic field. METHODS: Five each of four types of pressure-programmable shunt valves were tested: Sophy Polaris, Sophy SM8, Codman-Hakim, and Medtronic Strata. First, the valves were advanced toward the 3-tesla static magnetic field. Second, T1-, T2-, and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images were generated with a radiofrequency magnetic field...

A 6-year-old girl, who had received a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt using the Codman-Hakim programmable valve system at age 3 months, presented with intractable seizures. Neuroimaging studies showed migration of the proximal part of the system, including the prechamber, into the cranium through the right frontal burr hole. Electroencephalography showed spike-and-wave complexes in the right hemisphere including the site of the migration. The ictus was resolved following revision surgery. The clinical findings suggested the seizures were due to irritation of the brain parenchyma by the migrated system...

Although the Codman-Hakim programmable valve is popular, several problems arising from its design have been described. The authors report an additional cause of shunt obstruction in the system. A 6-year-old girl who had received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt with the Codman-Hakim programmable valve system presented with worsening consciousness. The valve proved hard to flush, and emergency revision of the valve was performed. Examination of the extracted valve revealed that the pressure control cam had migrated into the outlet of the valve, thus causing the obstruction...

We report a rare case of shunt malfunction resulting from breakage of the Codman-Hakim programmable shunt valve system following a blow to the head. Originally, the patient had suffered intraventricular hemorrhage a month after birth; ventriculoperitoneal shunt was performed at 7 months. After that, the shunt valve functioned well for 7 years. The patient presented with headaches after receiving a blow behind the right ear. The headache became exacerbated with activity and improved with rest. Damage to the shunt valve was identified during surgery, with a crack at the top of the valve housing...

OBJECTIVE: A new entity of chronic hydrocephalus was introduced recently in the international literature: longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults. Previous experience with this disorder has demonstrated that shunt therapy for such patients involves a considerable risk of overdrainage. In the present study, we aimed to clarify whether this risk could be avoided by use of gravitational shunts. METHODS: A total of 26 adults (age range, 17-75 yr) with macrocephaly and progressive hydrocephalus symptoms underwent implantation of either an adjustable Codman Hakim gravity-assisted shunt (Codman Medos, LeLocle, Switzerland) plus an Aesculap-Miethke ShuntAssistant (Miethke KG, Kleinmachnow, Germany) or a nonadjustable gravitational shunt (Aesculap-Miethke gravity-assisted valve)...

OBJECT: The author investigated the 1-year outcomes for shunt treatment of hydrocephalic children in Uganda, comparing the results using the inexpensive Chhabra shunt ($35 US dollars), widely used in East Africa, with those using the Codman-Hakim Micro Precision Valve shunt ($650). METHODS: The results in 195 consecutive children (mostly infants) in whom shunts were placed were studied prospectively. In Group 1, 90 patients randomly received either the Chhabra or Codman shunt as primary treatment for hydrocephalus...