Hydrocephalus

After completing this lesson, you should be able to: - explain how impaired CSF flow or absorption produces ventricular enlargement and neurologic injury; - recognize age-specific signs of acute hydrocephalus, raised intracranial pressure, shunt malfunction, and shunt infection; - distinguish the gradual idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus pattern from acute neurologic decline; - prioritize immediate RN assessment, safety measures, and urgent escalation; and - describe the purpose and major risks of CSF diversion, shunt infection treatment, and temporizing medication therapy.