Shunt (medical)

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Shunt (medical)

In medicine

Medicine

Medicine is the art and science of healing. It encompasses a range of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, a shunt is a hole or passage which moves, or allows movement of fluid

Bodily fluid

Bodily fluids listed below are found in the bodies of men and/or women. Some may be found in animals as well. They include fluids that are excretion or secretion from the body as well as fluids that normally are not....
from one part of the body

Human anatomy

Human anatomy, which, with physiology and biochemistry, is a complementary basic medical science is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the adult human body....
to another. The term may describe either congenital or acquired shunts; and acquired shunts (sometimes referred to as iatrogenic shunts) may be either biological or mechanical.

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Encyclopedia

In medicine

Medicine

Bodily fluid

Human anatomy

Cardiac shunt
Cardiac shunt

Cardiac shunts may be described as right-to-left shunt, left-to-right shunt or bidirectional shunt, or as systemic-to-pulmonary shunt or pulmonary-to-systemic shunt....
s may be described as right-to-left
Right-to-left shunt

A right-to-left shunt is a heart cardiac shunt which allows, or is designed to cause, blood to circulatory system from the right heart to the left heart....
, left-to-right
Left-to-right shunt

A left-to-right shunt is a heart shunt which allows, or is designed to cause, blood to circulatory system from the left heart to the right heart....
or bidirectional
Bidirectional shunt

A bidirectional shunt is a heart shunt which allows, or is designed to cause, blood to circulatory system freely between the right heart and the left heart....
, or as systemic-to-pulmonary
Systemic-to-pulmonary shunt

A systemic-to-pulmonary shunt is a heart shunt which allows, or is designed to cause, blood to circulatory system from the systemic circulation to the pulmonary circulation....
or pulmonary-to-systemic
Pulmonary-to-systemic shunt

A pulmonary-to-systemic shunt is a heart shunt which allows, or is designed to cause, blood to circulatory system from the pulmonary circulation to the systemic circulation....
.

Cerebral shunt
Cerebral shunt

In cases of hydrocephalus , a silicone elastomer tube called a shunt is used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain and carry it to other parts of the body....
: In cases of hydrocephalus
Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a term derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water, and "cephalus" meaning head, and this condition is sometimes known as "water on the brain"....
, a one-way valve is used to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid

Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear bodily fluid that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain....
from the brain
Brain

The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate, and most invertebrate, animals. Some primitive animals such as cnidarian and echinoderm have a decentralized nervous system without a brain, while sponges lack any nervous system at all....
and carry it to other parts of the body. This valve usually sits outside the skull
Skull

The skull is a bone structure found in the head of many animals. The skull supports the structures of the face and protects the head against injury....
, but beneath the skin
Skin

The skin is the outer covering of the body, also known as the epidermis. It is the largest organ of the integumentary system made up of multiple layers of epithelial biological tissue, and guards the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments and organ s....
, somewhere behind the ear
Ear

The ear is the sense organ that detects sounds. The vertebrate ear shows a common biology from fish to humans, with variations in structure according to order and species....
.

Pulmonary shunt
Pulmonary shunt

A pulmonary shunt is a physiological condition which results when the alveoli of the lung are perfusion with blood as normal, but Ventilation fails to supply the perfused region....
s exist when there is normal perfusion
Perfusion

In physiology, perfusion is the process of nutritive delivery of arterial blood to a capillary bed in the biological tissue. The word is derived from the French verb "perfuser" meaning to "pour over or through."...
to an alveolus, but ventilation
Ventilation (physiology)

In respiratory physiology, ventilation is the rate at which gas enters or leaves the lung. It is categorised under the following definitions:...
fails to supply the perfused region.

A portosystemic shunt
Portosystemic shunt

A portosystemic shunt , also known as a liver shunt, is a bypass of the liver by the body's circulatory system. It can be either a congenital disorder or acquired condition....
(PSS), also known as a liver shunt, is a bypass of the liver
Liver

The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals; it has a wide range of functions, a few of which are detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion....
by the body's circulatory system
Circulatory system

The circulatory system is an organ that moves nutrients, gases, and wastes to and from cells to help fight diseases and help stabilize body temperature and pH to maintain homeostasis....
. It can be either a congenital or acquired condition. Congenital PSS is an uncommon condition in dogs and cats, found mainly in small dog breeds such as Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a dog breed of small dog of the Schnauzer type that originated in Germany in the mid-to-late 19th century. Miniature Schnauzers developed from crosses between the Standard Schnauzer and one or more smaller breeds such as the Poodle or Affenpinscher....
s and Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier is a Dog breed of dog in the terrier category. The long-haired terrier is known for its playful demeanor and distinctive blue and tan coat....
s, and in cats such as Persian
Persian (cat)

The Persian Cat is one of the oldest cat breeds of cat. In Britain, it is called the Longhair or Persian Longhair. A Persian without an established and registered pedigree is classed as a domestic longhair cat....
s, Himalayan
Himalayan (cat)

The Himalayan, also called colorpoint Persian and colloquially referred to as Himmy, is a breed of cat with extremely long, fluffy fur, and the blue eyes and the point s of a Siamese ....
s, and mix breeds. Acquired PSS is also uncommon and is found in older dogs with liver disease causing portal hypertension
Portal hypertension

In medicine, portal hypertension is hypertension in the portal vein and its tributaries.It is often defined as a portal pressure gradient of 5 mm Hg or greater....
, especially cirrhosis
Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver Tissue by fibrous scar tissue as well as regenerative Nodule , leading to progressive loss of liver function....
.

A portacaval shunt
Portacaval shunt

A portacaval shunt is a treatment for high blood pressure in the liver. A connection is made between the portal vein, which supplies 75% of the liver's blood, and the inferior vena cava, the vein that drains blood from the lower two-thirds of the body....
/ portal caval shunt is a treatment for high blood pressure in the liver.

Shunt (medical)

See also