A new study presented at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2024 Meeting in Toronto suggests that eye ultrasound could provide a rapid and safe method for detecting ventricular shunt failure in children. Ventricular shunts, which are used to treat hydrocephalus by draining excess fluid from the brain, often fail due to blockages or displacements, with nearly 30% of shunts failing within two years of placement. Symptoms of shunt failure, such as headaches, vomiting, and fatigue, are often nonspecific, making diagnosis challenging. Currently, children with suspected shunt failure undergo frequent imaging tests like CT and MRI scans, which expose them to radiation and sedation.
The study, led by Dr. Adrienne L. Davis at The Hospital for Sick Children, focused on using eye ultrasound to measure the diameter of the optic nerve sheath, which swells when fluid backs up due to shunt failure. By comparing the optic nerve diameter when the child is well versus when symptomatic, the researchers found that this measurement could help identify blocked shunts. The study involved 76 pairs of eye ultrasounds from nearly 60 children, and the team hopes this method will reduce radiation exposure and provide quicker diagnoses in the emergency department. While the findings are promising, further research is needed to confirm these results in a larger population of children with shunts across North America.
