A nurse has provided discharge instructions to the parents of an infant who had a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure performed for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Which statement if made by the parents indicates an accurate understanding of the presence of a shunt complication?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If the shunt is broken or malfunctioning; the fluid from the ventricle part of the brain will not be diverted to the peritoneal cavity. The cerebrospinal fluid will build up in the cranial area. The result is intracranial pressure, which then causes a high-pitched cry in the infant.

A Nurse Has Provided Discharge Instructions to the Parents of an Infant