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Overview

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition marked by the presence of excess fluid in the brain. Symptoms of this neurological disorder include trouble walking, thinking and urinary incontinence.

NPH can develop independent of another condition or procedure such as head trauma or neurological surgery. NPH most often occurs in older adults. It is distinct from Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases though symptoms may be similar.

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Our multidisciplinary care team includes neurosurgeons, nurse coordinators and physical and occupational therapists. We offer the latest diagnostic tests and treatments, and work toward maximizing function, improving quality of life and increasing independence for each patient. Diagnostic tests include neurological exam, physical and occupational therapy assessments, and imaging studies (MRI or CT scan). A lumbar puncture or lumbar drain evaluation to remove spinal fluid from the brain is performed to establish the diagnosis and determine ventricular shunt candidacy.

Yale New Haven Hospital was the first hospital in the United Staters to offer a Phase 1 clinical trial for the CereVasc® eShunt® System to treat normal pressure hydrocephalus. The eShunt is implanted at the base of the skull through a catheter during minimally invasive endovascular neurosurgery. It drains excess fluid from the brain through the eShunt implant into the internal jugular vein where it is reabsorbed and excreted. Patients receive physical and/or occupational therapy after the eShunt or standard ventricular shunting procedures.

Yale School of Medicine

Yale New Haven Health is proud to be affiliated with the prestigious Yale University and its highly ranked Yale School of Medicine.