ventriculoatrial shunt

shunt (shunt)

1. to turn to one side; to bypass.

2. a passage or anastomosis between two natural channels, especially between blood vessels, formed physiologically or anomalously.

3. a surgically created anastomosis; also, the operation of forming a shunt.

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arteriovenous shunt 

1. the diversion of blood from an artery directly to a vein.

2. a U-shaped plastic tube inserted between an artery and a vein; usually to allow repeated access to the arterial system for hemodialysis.

Blalock-Taussig shunt  see under operation.

cardiovascular shunt  diversion of the blood flow through an anomalous opening from the left side of the heart to the right side or from the systemic to the pulmonary circulation (left-to-right s.), or from the right side to the left side or from the pulmonary to the systemic circulation (right-to-left s.) .

left-to-right shunt  see cardiovascular s.

LeVeen peritoneovenous shunt  continuous shunting of ascites fluid from the peritoneal cavity to the jugular vein by means of a surgically implanted subcutaneous plastic tube.

portacaval shunt  surgical anastomosis of the portal vein and the vena cava.

Shunts diverting portal venous blood flow from the liver. (A), Portacaval shunt; (B), splenorenal shunt.

right-to-left shunt  see cardiovascular s.

splenorenal shunt  removal of the spleen with anastomosis of the splenic vein to the left renal vein.

Shunts diverting portal venous blood flow from the liver. (A), Portacaval shunt; (B), splenorenal shunt.

ventriculoatrial shunt  the surgical creation of a communication between a cerebral ventricle and a cardiac atrium by means of a plastic tube, to permit drainage of cerebrospinal fluid for relief of hydrocephalus.

ventriculoperitoneal shunt  a communication between a cerebral ventricle and the peritoneum by means of plastic tubing; done for the relief of hydrocephalus.

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ventriculoatrial shunt

[ventrik′yəlō·ā′trē·əl]

Etymology: L, ventriculus + atrium, hall; ME, shunten

a surgically created passageway consisting of plastic tubing and one-way valves, implanted between a cerebral ventricle and the right atrium of the heart to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain in hydrocephalus.

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shunt,

n 1. a hole or passageway that allows the movement of fluid, such as cerebrospinal fluid, from one body part to another. The term is used to describe congenital or acquired shunts, which may be either mechanical or biologic.
2. a surgically implanted tube or catheter, such as those used to treat hydrocephalus, that allows the passage of fluid between body parts.

shunt, arteriovenous,

n (arteriovenous aneurysm, arteriovenous fistula), an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein; usually caused by trauma.

shunt, ventriculoatrial

n a surgically manufactured passage made of plastic tubing between a cardiac atrium and cerebral ventricle for the treatment of hydrocephalus. See also ventriculoureterostomy.