The care of patients with shunted hydrocephalus is one of the most common c
linical problems facing a pediatric neurosurgeon. Despite the prevalence of
this clinical entity, it is our impression that the management strategies
for these patients vary significantly amongst pediatric neurosurgeons, In a
n effort to better understand how varied these practices are, we surveyed 2
61 neurosurgeons with an expressed interest in pediatric neurosurgery, of w
hom 149 (57%) responded. The survey contained questions pertaining to preop
erative and intraoperative management, choice of shunt valve, treatment phi
losophies with respect to shunt revision, evaluation process for potential
shunt malfunction, treatment strategies for shunt infections and routine fo
llow-up care. The answers to the questions confirmed our expectations that
there are a variety of ways to manage these patients.