Pennsylvania Injury Lawyer Blog

“Water on the brain,” medically referred to as hydrocephalus, is a condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of a person’s brain. It can cause an increase in intracranial pressure inside a person’s skull and result in a progressive enlargement of their head, as well as causing the person to suffer from convulsions and various mental disabilities, and can be fatal. Related to the condition is normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which can occur due to a gradual blockage of the CSF drainage pathway in a person’s brain.

The appearance of hydrocephalus is varied and is linked to its severity, and can also be affected by a person’s age, the reason for the blockage, and how much tissue of the brain has been hurt by the swelling. Common symptoms of significant intracranial pressure include nausea, vomiting, excessive sleepiness, papilledema, and headaches. A person can also slip into a coma as a result of the increase in pressure or suffer from life-threatening compression to the brain stem. Other common manifestations of hydrocephalus include urinary incontinence, gait instability, epilepsy, and dementia.

For babies that suffer from water on the brain, their symptoms include seizures, vomiting, irritability, excessive sleepiness, difficulty feeding, uncontrolled eye movements, slow growth, and the manifestation of eyes that seem to be unable to look upwards.

Treatment for the condition of water on the brain involves a surgical operation to insert a shunt to allow excess CSF an exit pathway and to relieve the pressure on a person’s brain. The shunt is placed in the brain’s ventricular system to redirect the flow of CSF into another part of a person’s body where it can be absorbed into the person’s bloodstream.

The overall outlook for those that are diagnosed with water on the brain depends on the timing of the diagnosis, its treatment, and its cause. Children that are treated for the condition are sometimes able to lead lives that are relatively normal with very few limitations. However, as has been noted, hydrocephalus can cause life-long damage, and there are risks and complications associated with shunt operations.

If you believe you or your infant is suffering from water on the brain, you should seek medical attention right away. After you or your baby receives treatment, consult with a Pennsylvania hospital negligence lawyer who will help you conclude whether the medical condition was caused by someone’s negligence.

“Water on the brain,” which is referred to as hydrocephalus in the medical community, is an irregular buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of a person’s brain. Often, the CSF is under increased pressure, which can compress and damage a person’s brain. It is a condition that is very serious and oftentimes fatal. It can occur before birth or at any time after. It can be caused by a birth defect, brain hemorrhage, infection, tumor, meningitis, or a head injury.

“Hydrocephalus ex-vacuo” is a condition in which there is brain damage caused by injury or a stroke. In these cases there is actual brain substance shrinkage, but the CSF pressure is normal. Another variation of water on the brain is “normal pressure hydrocephalus” (NPH), which occurs because of a gradual blockage of CSF pathways to drainage in a person’s brain. The brain’s ventricles enlarge, but the CSF pressure stays within a normal range. Common symptoms of NPH are difficulty walking, poor bladder control, significant memory loss, and dementia.

Other symptoms of water on the brain in older adults include:

• Vomiting;


• Slow growth;


• Significant loss in coordination;


• Significant changes in personality;


• Significant changes in eye spacing and facial appearance;


• Muscle spasms;


• Inability to control eye movements;


• Fatigue;


• Crossed eyes;


• Blurred vision; and


• An inability to think or reason.

Additionally, approximately one out of every four people diagnosed with water on the brain develops epilepsy.

Treatment for hydrocephalus is surgical. The operation involves inserting a shunt into the brain to allow the extra CSF an exit path and relieves the CSF pressure on a person’s brain. The shunt directs the excess CSF into another area of a person’s body where it is then absorbed into their bloodstream.

There are many complications associated with the procedure, including failure of the shunt, shunt malfunction, and infection. Shunts may stop working if it becomes blocked or infected, or if it is outgrown. There is also a chance it may become disconnected. If any of these occur, the CSF will begin to accumulate once more and the symptoms of water on the brain will occur again. The brain hydrocephalus shunt failure rate is high—about 40,000 shunt surgeries are performed every year to treat water on the brain and a mere 30 percent are the first surgery for a patient. It is very common for a person who suffers from hydrocephalus to require multiple shunt revision surgeries in their lifetime.

The outlook for adults diagnosed with hydrocephalus depends on the cause of the condition, the timing of the diagnosis and its treatment. Often, children that are diagnosed with water on the brain are able to live relatively normal lives with few limitations. However, if symptoms of water on the brain are left unchecked, it can cause life-long damage to a person’s brain, and even be fatal. If you believe that a physician’s failure to diagnose or error has caused you to suffer from hydrocephalus, a Harrisburg, PA medical malpractice lawyer can help you hold negligent medical professionals liable.

Hydrocephalus is a condition that is commonly referred to as “water on the brain.” It occurs when there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of a person’s brain. It is a very serious condition that can cause an increase in intracranial pressure inside a person’s skull as well as a progressive enlargement of a person’s head, causing them to suffer from convulsions and/or mental disabilities. It can also be fatal.

The condition can arise before birth or at any time afterwards, and can be caused by a birth defect, infection, tumor, brain hemorrhage, meningitis, or a head injury. The symptoms of hydrocephalus depend on a person’s age, the reason for the blockage, and how much tissue of the brain is damaged by the swelling. In babies, the most obvious indicator of the condition is an abnormally large head, caused by a buildup of CSF in the central nervous system, which causes the fontanelle to enlarge. This is one of the major reasons a baby’s head should be measured at every visit to a doctor.

Other symptoms of hydrocephalus in babies are:

• Vomiting;


• Sleepiness;


• Irritability;


• Seizures;


• Uncontrolled eye movements;


• Difficulty feeding;


• Slow growth; and


• Eyes that seem to look downwards and aren’t able to look upwards.

Additionally, approximately one in four people diagnosed with hydrocephalus develop epilepsy.

Hydrocephalus treatment is surgical, and involves inserting a shunt into a baby’s brain to allow the excess fluid to drain, relieving the pressure on the brain. The shunt diverts the CSF flow from the brain into another part of the infant’s body so the CSF can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

If a baby is diagnosed with hydrocephalus, their prognosis depends on the timing of the diagnosis and the treatment they receive. Many infants diagnosed with this condition whose parents seek appropriate treatment quickly are able to lead relatively normal lives with very few, if any, restrictions. However, in many cases, an infant will suffer cognitive impairments in language and non-language functions. Complications from hydrocephalus surgery can also cause an infant to suffer infections, and problems may necessitate a revision of the shunt.

If you believe your baby may suffer from water on the brain, consult with medical professionals immediately. After seeking treatment for your infant, you should consult with a personal injury attorney to determine whether your baby’s medical condition was the result of negligence on the part of healthcare providers during the birth process or afterwards.