RT Book, Section A1 Weingrow, Daniel W. A1 Lentz, Jacob A2 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 1159804834 T1 Ventricular Shunt Evaluation and Aspiration T2 Reichman's Emergency Medicine Procedures, 3e YR 2018 FD 2018 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861925 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1159804834 RD 2024/11/01 AB Pediatric and adult patients with ventricular shunts frequently seek medical attention in the Emergency Department (ED) with complaints that may or may not be caused by a malfunction and/or infection of these indwelling devices.1-3 Patients with shunts may present with clinical entities as benign as a viral upper respiratory infection or with a life-threatening condition such as hydrocephalus. The wide range of possibilities is a challenge to the Emergency Physician’s (EP’s) diligence and clinical acumen. The challenge for the EP is to determine if the shunt system is functioning properly and if it is a direct cause of the patient’s acute problem. This chapter will discuss the complications of ventricular shunt complications and includes tapping the shunt reservoir in the appropriate circumstance.