Hydrocephalus

Etiology / Pathophysiology

• Excess CSF results from obstruction, impaired absorption, overproduction, congenital malformation, hemorrhage, or infection.
• CSF accumulation enlarges ventricles and raises pressure, threatening brain tissue and development.

Medications

No specific medication class was seeded for this card.

Nursing actions

• Assess head circumference, fontanel, sutures, vomiting, feeding, irritability, sunset eyes, and LOC.
• Monitor for increased ICP and shunt malfunction/infection if a VP shunt is present.
• Teach caregivers to report fever, vomiting, lethargy, irritability, redness along shunt tract, or bulging fontanel.

Complications

• Increased ICP
• Developmental delay
• Shunt infection
• Shunt obstruction

NCLEX cues

• Bulging fontanel and increasing head circumference.
• Sunsetting eyes.
• Shunt malfunction signs mimic ICP.

Memory hooks

• Hydrocephalus is too much CSF pressure.

Labs / Diagnostics

• Head circumference trends
• Cranial ultrasound/CT/MRI
• Neuro checks

Review notes

• Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.