Communicating hydrocephalus

This study tests whether shining UVC light on the surgical area during brain surgery can prevent wound infections. 75 adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus who need a shunt will be randomly assigned to receive real UVC light or a sham device. The researchers will check for ge…

This study tests whether applying vancomycin powder directly into the surgical wound during shunt placement can prevent infections in children with hydrocephalus. About 164 children will be randomly assigned to receive either standard care or standard care plus the powder. The go…

This study will look at how common Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) is in Maryland and whether race or zip code affects access to care. Researchers will provide education to patients, primary care doctors, and community health workers, then track how many people get referred t…

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain ultrasound can predict which patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus will improve after shunt surgery. Researchers will measure brain pulsatility before a lumbar puncture and again one year later. The goal is to see if t…

This study will test whether MRI scans can detect a blocked shunt in adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus without needing surgery. Sixty participants will have their shunt temporarily set to 'off' for 5-7 days to mimic a blockage. Researchers will compare MRI images and bloo…