A nurse has provided discharge instructions to the parents of an infant who has had a ventriculoperitoneal 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

The statement that indicates an accurate understanding of the presence of a shunt complication is "if my infant has a high-pitched cry, I should call the physician." 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 increased intracranial pressure, which then causes a high-pitched cry in the infant. The infant should not have pressure placed on the shunt side. Skin breakdown and possible compressions to the apparatus could result. This type of shunt affects the gastrointestinal system, not the genitourinary system.

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