Are shunts safe for MRI?

Your shunt should be reprogrammed within 4 hours after your MRI. Some types of programmable VP shunts aren’t affected by MRI scans. Ask your neurosurgeon or nurse practitioner (NP) if your shunt will need to be reprogrammed after MRI scans.

What is a strata valve?

Overview. Strata® adjustable pressure valves are part of a shunt system used to treat the symptoms of hydrocephalus. A shunt redirects excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain to another part of the body, allowing the brain’s enlarged ventricles to return to a more normal size.

Can you go through a metal detector with a VP shunt?

Programmable shunt valves can be affected by strong magnets, possibly changing the pressure setting of the shunt. Metal detectors, security scanners at airports and shops, microwave ovens and mobile phones will not affect the valve.

What are the symptoms of VP shunt Overdrainage?

Symptoms of overdrainage often include headache and are similar to the symptoms of underdrainage (hydrocephalus). Underdrainage occurs when CSF is not removed quickly, fluid builds up in the ventricles and the symptoms of hydrocephalus recur.

How do you diagnose a VP shunt obstruction?

Palpate to identify the VP shunt and the reservoir chamber. Compress the chamber. Difficulty compressing indicates distal obstruction. Slow refill (more than 3-5 seconds) indicates proximal obstruction.

Can you fly if you have a shunt in your brain?

Flying. Flying in a regular commercial jet is fine for most people with shunts. If you were told years ago not to fly, it’s worth asking your neurosurgeon again as things have changed.

Will a shunt set off a metal detector?

Patients with programmable shunt valves must avoid magnetic forces such as metal detectors and MRI machines, as this can alter the pressure setting.

Where is a VP shunt placed?

To help drain the extra CSF from your brain, a VP shunt will be placed into your head. The VP shunt works by taking the fluid out of your brain and moving it into your abdomen (belly), where it’s absorbed by your body. This lowers the pressure and swelling in your brain.

Can a MRI be used on a strata adjustable valve?

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems of up to 3.0 tesla and a spatial gradient magnetic field of 720 gauss/cm or less, may be used at any time after implantation without damaging the Strata Adjustable Valve mechanism. However, exposure to MRI can change the performance level setting of the Strata Adjustable Valve.

Is the stratamr valve and shunt MR conditional?

MRI Safety Information Non-clinical testing has demonstrated that the StrataMR™ valves and shunts are MR Conditional. A patient with this device can be safely scanned in an MR system meeting the following conditions: Static magnetic field of 1.5 or 3.0 tesla

Are there any safety guidelines for MRI shunt valves?

In general, for shunt valves that utilize magnetic components, highly specific safety guidelines must be followed in order to perform MRI procedures safely in patients with these devices. The following content provides information for several different CSF shunt valve products.

What is the magnetic field of a stratamr shunt?

Non-clinical testing has demonstrated that the StrataMR™ valves and shunts are MR Conditional. A patient with this device can be safely scanned in an MR system meeting the following conditions: Static magnetic field of 1.5 or 3.0 tesla Maximum spatial gradient magnetic field of 1900 gauss/cm (19 T/m)