One of the major reasons is that, in theory, there isn't nearly as much surgery w/programmables. If there is a need to change the settings, it can be done externally, most of the time. There are also supposed to be advantages w/flow control w/them. Unfortunately, a lot of people require numerous surgeries over their lifetime w/the 'old fashioned' shunts too. The old fashioned ones have a lot of drawbacks too--infection, kinking, rejection, etc. Nothing is perfect.
A lot of people (surgeons included) are infatuated w/the idea of having state-of-the-art anything--be it shunts, procedures, iPods, etc. Some jump the gun. The ones who bother me are those who want 'A Cure'. Since there are numerous causes for hydro, there can never be ONE cure all. Personally, even though my hydro has been arrested for over 20 yrs, I wouldn't want 'the cure' anyway. It implies that there is something wrong w/us until we get 'the cure'. But what would 'cure' someone who acquired hydro through brain injury wouldn't be the same cure as it would be for an infant w/a brain bleed or a congenital case.
A few yrs ago I was reading about someone who was exploring the idea of 'growing' a shunt w/the patient's own tissue, so the opportunity for infection & rejection would be minimized. Great idea. Never heard anything more about it though.
Hydropr61
--- On Tue, 8/5/08, psincer9@... <psincer9@...> wrote:
From: psincer9@... <psincer9@...> Subject: Re: [hydrocephalus] Re: Migranes! Need to Vent! To: hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, August 5, 2008, 3:30 PM
After being on this list for a few years, I cannot understand why surgeons keep putting those programmable things in peoples' heads. Apparently the technology hasn't reached that point yet.
In a message dated 6/3/2008 11:39:50 A.M. Pacific Standard Time, dfpoz@yahoo. com writes:
Jill:
One of the members of the hydro support group I belong to has had lots of problems, over the last several yrs, w/her programmable. She had pressure problems & other issues, some resolved and some not. She has had infections & other complications, some of which have been dismissed by docs, saying that it is psychological- -which no one who knows her believes! I don't doubt that there is a problem that isn't being recognized.
Best of luck!
Diana
Sweetrse7@aol. com wrote:
Diana-
Thank you for the information. I did in fact go to SF and see one at UCSF, and that was when I was told that I no longer had peripheral vision in my left eye because one of my optical nerves died ! Lucky me huh ! Well, since then I have had continuous battles with head, eye and ear pain on a daily basis. I wish they could just figure out what the problem is and fix it already. I was told by a neurologist that the pressure in my shunt might be off due to the fact that I have a programmable one. I used to have a VP and that one finally gave out about 5 years ago forcing me to have this one put in. I praise UCSF though. That is a very nice hospital.
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Jill: Hi! Have you asked your doctor about seeing a neuro-opthamologist (sp)? Someone with that specialty might be able to address your eye pain & some of...
Diana- Thank you for the information. I did in fact go to SF and see one at UCSF, and that was when I was told that I no longer had peripheral vision in my ...
Jill: One of the members of the hydro support group I belong to has had lots of problems, over the last several yrs, w/her programmable. She had pressure...
Diana- Thank you for believing me ! A lot of people don't. All I ask is that the pain go away ! My life on a daily basis is hard. It is a chore to even ...
After being on this list for a few years, I cannot understand why surgeons keep putting those programmable things in peoples' heads. Apparently the ...
psincer9:  One of the major reasons is that, in theory, there isn't nearly as much surgery w/programmables. If there is a need to change the settings, it...
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