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IVT
ventriculoamniotic shunt
Drainage catheter connecting fetal cerebral ventricles to amniotic cavity to treat severe hydrocephalus.
Full Definition
A neurosurgical drainage device placed to treat severe fetal hydrocephalus by creating a pathway for cerebrospinal fluid to drain from the dilated cerebral ventricles into the amniotic cavity. The shunt consists of a double-pigtail catheter system placed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Indications include progressive ventriculomegaly with head circumference measurements exceeding normal parameters, though long-term outcomes remain variable.
In Context
- "A ventriculoamniotic shunt was placed at 26 weeks for progressive fetal hydrocephalus." — Fetal neurosurgery report
- "Shunt malfunction was suspected when ventriculomegaly progressed despite the ventriculoamniotic shunt." — Follow-up imaging report
Also known as
cerebral shunt
CSF diversion shunt
Don't confuse with
vesicoamniotic shunt
thoracoamniotic shunt