I have been wanting to get a shunt card for my daughter which would list that she has hydrocephalus, has a VP shunt in place, the setting of the shunt, the maker of the shunt, her neurosurgeon's name and such. A friend in Australia has one but I can't find a place to get one here in the United States (Colorado specifically). I have seen MedicAlert bracelets but I doubt all of the above information would fit. I've thought about making my own, but thought I'd ask around on here first.
Thanks!
I believe the OR Nurse should have made sure that you got a card. You can contact the maker of your daughter's shunt, ie Medtronic, Codman, etc, and they will send you one with the make, the number of the shunt in case there is a recall and all the info you need. Good luck. Another Mom
Has there ever been a recall on any of the VP shunts?
Dear Friends:
This topic is interesting. I just heard that a coworkers husband has hydrocephalus, and that he received a card ASAP. I never got one. How do I find out what manufacturer mine is???? My age is 27 years old....had my surgery @ 26(May '07).
Sincerely,
Casey
I'm guessing that we'll have to ask our neurosurgeon's about the maker of the shunt? I have looked amongst the paperwork that I have from my daughter's surgery and can find nothing as to who made it. Luckily, she has a check up with her neuro in a few weeks, so I can ask then.
Hey there....I called the neurosurgeons office today, and I guess they were supposed to give me the card after my operation. Supposedly, it is included in the kit. Evidently, they will have to cut open my head to get the info....NO WAY!!! They are sending a generic card, though. I asked if the manufacturer would have the specific info on my shunt, and the lady said they wouldn't. I have become so interested in my shunting since I am older....wanting to know how it works, maker, etc. I love this website. Thanks for sharing.
WMartMan08, they should have on your medical records at the hospital shunts were installed, shunt type, valve type and pressure setting.
If they don't, I think it would be very poor on their part to not keep record of all the details!
WOW! 21 sunts and no one ever offered me a card from the manufacturer. Then again, the bulk of my work was done by cold and arrogant surgeons. I wore a MedicAlert necklace for a couple years (15-17) but my body does not like jewelry of any kind.
As an adult I carry a USB flash drive clearly labeled MEDICAL, along with my other flash drives. On the medical, all of the documents are in PDF format. One is an exhaustive medical history, complete with my current doctors and medications and supplements. Another is my routine lab work for the last two years scanned and sequenced backwards. Another is my Advance Medical Directive, Virginia's combination power of attorney, living will, and direction on anatomical donations and disposition of remains. The only other doc is a file of notes I take to every doctor visit. I print off the medical history and labs for every first visit with a doctor.
With the pervasiveness of field laptops for emergency workers and the ubiquity of ER computers, I encourage others to be this painstaking in maintaining and carrying information. My wallter contrains a card pointing to the flash drive.
THERES A CARD.... 13 shunts later my son is 2 couldve used a card.... someone is slacking...the docs are asleep officially
pretty basic stuff, your neurosurgeon should absolutely know the name of shunt. Most surgeons now are using "Codman Hakim" shunts, whether they are programmable, or non-programmable. Other info. like the valve setting you should always know. If not last xray will tell you what it was set at. Also if you call Codman Hakim they will send you a plastic dial that will enable you to read the xray before you doc. even gets even. my daughter could read her dial setting on her xrays at about age 16. If you can't get your hands on card, your local hospitl should have little medical info. cards. they fold out to be quite lenghty to add lots of information, but then fold up accordian style to the size of your license. Most local hospitals carrey these now.
I have two medical alert identifications one is a bracelet and the other is a dog tag on my car keys. I also have the blue medical alert cards say Non-shunted Hydrocephalus Patient (Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy)
I believe identification will save our lives one day.
About a month ago, I got a Dog Tag made from a vendor at my place of work. The information I have on it:
Name, Medical Conditions, VP Shunt Placement and my phone number.
The vendor did this on a RED Dog Tag to alert medical personnel if I were to have complications with the shunt in the future.
Try www.americanmedical-id.com/ for medical bracelets etc
In the spring issue of the Hydrocephalus Newsletter (pg 19) there is a mention of Shunt Cards and it gives the mfg. as Medtech.
I searched the internet and cannot locate Medtech that offers Shunt Cards, but I did locate Bel Med Inc. (404-851-1965 or 800-727-6137).
From what I've read, your neurosurgeon selects 6 views from your most recent MRI or Cat Scan to be put onto the card along with your medical information.
A laminated wallet card is made and sent to you. It listed the first card at $25.00 with additional cards for $10. I'm not sure how current this information is.
The card is great for adults who carry their wallets but the medical alert bracelet may be the wise choice for everyone else.
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