Shunt

A shunt is a connecting pathway that connects two anatomical cavity structures in the body and allows fluid to flow from one structure to another. The shunt may be a congenital developmental defect or created artificially during surgery.

For example, a congenital heart defect may have a ventricular septal defect, which is an opening between the left and right ventricles of the heart. This hole acts as a shunt through which blood flows from the left ventricle to the right.

Another example is a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, which is implanted for hydrocephalus - the accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain. This shunt drains excess fluid from the brain into the abdominal cavity, where it is absorbed.

Thus, the shunt plays an important role in regulating fluid flows in the body under various pathological conditions. The presence of a shunt can be either a congenital anomaly or the result of surgical intervention.

A shunt is a path connecting two anatomical tubular structures through which blood or some other fluid (for example, cerebrospinal fluid) is diverted from one to the other.

The presence of such a pathway may be a congenital developmental defect (for example, a septal defect) or created artificially during surgery.

The shunt allows you to divert excess fluid from one anatomical structure to another, thereby normalizing pressure and preventing the development of complications.

For example, with hydrocephalus (excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity), a shunt is surgically created to drain excess fluid into the abdominal cavity or heart.

An artificially created shunt can function for a long time, but sometimes requires revision or replacement if complications arise.