The Ventricular Catheter Placement Study: Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of an Ultrasound Guided Shunt Insertion Technique

Inclusion Criteria: - Patients must have clinical and radiographic evidence of hydrocephalus as determined by a pediatric neurosurgeon and require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (atrial, pleural, gallbladder and other shunt systems are excluded) - Patients can have no prior history of shunt insertion for hydrocephalus. A history of an external ventricular drain, subgaleal reservoir-catheter, or subgaleal shunt is permissible - Patients must be less than 18 years of age at the time of shunt insertion Exclusion Criteria: - Active CSF or abdominal infection - Spread of tumor in the subarachnoid space documented on enhanced imaging (CT or MRI) of the head or spine - CSF leak without hydrocephalus - Pseudotumor cerebri - Dandy-Walker malformation or arachnoid cyst as a cause of hydrocephalus - Loculations within the ventricular system - Hydranencephaly, alobar holoprosencephaly or any other congenital anomaly of the brain that severely distorts the ventricular anatomy such that ventricular catheter location cannot be determined - Other systemic disorders that would preclude the insertion/revision of a ventricular shunt - Other difficulties that would preclude follow-up at one year (e.g. terminal illness with life expectancy less than 1 year)