Fluid flow performance of a new siphon-control device for ventricular shunts.

✓ Most available cerebrospinal fluid diversion systems utilize differential-pressure valves that often induce overshunting, resulting in complications due to the siphoning of fluid from the ventricular system when the patient is in the erect position. A new siphon-control device (SCD) was tested alone and in combination with four types of differential-pressure valves with low, medium, and high opening pressures (namely PS Medical, Heyer-Schulte, Cordis-Hakim, and Codman valves). The valve inlet and outlet pressures were measured at several fluid inflow rates between 2.0 and 50.0 ml/hr. Inlet pressure and valve resistance were determined when the outlet pressures of the differential-pressure valve or SCD were varied between 0 and −60 cm H2O. Of the differential-pressures valves tested, none provided protection against siphoning without the distal connection of the SCD. The SCD allowed all differential-pressure valves tested to maintain atmospheric pressure regardless of the outlet pressure. The SCD perform...