Hydrocephalus occurs when cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain's ventricles, causing pressure that can damage brain tissue. It affects roughly 1 in 1,000 babies and can also develop after brain injury, infection, or bleeding in adults. Treatment has long centered on shunts — tubes that drain excess fluid — but research is exploring alternatives and better ways to manage this lifelong condition.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing endoscopic third ventriculostomy as a shunt alternative, improved shunt designs with lower infection and malfunction rates, and drug approaches to reduce fluid production. Researchers are also studying biomarkers to predict shunt failure, imaging techniques to guide treatment decisions, and ways to address cognitive and motor problems that persist even after fluid is controlled.
Endoscopic alternatives to shunts
Endoscopic third ventriculostomy creates a small opening in the brain to let fluid drain naturally, avoiding the need for a permanent shunt in some people. Studies are identifying which patients benefit most and how to improve success rates.
Shunt technology improvements
New valve designs, antimicrobial catheter coatings, and programmable pressure settings aim to reduce the infection and blockage rates that lead to repeated surgeries. Some trials are testing sensors that could alert patients and doctors to early shunt problems.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on hydrocephalus type (congenital, acquired, normal pressure), age, prior treatments, severity of symptoms, and whether a shunt is already in place.
What types of trials are currently open
- Surgical technique trials — Comparing endoscopic procedures to traditional shunt placement, or testing new surgical approaches to reduce complications.
- Device trials — Testing improved shunt valves, catheters with infection-resistant materials, or pressure-monitoring systems.
- Medical management trials — Studying drugs that reduce cerebrospinal fluid production, such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, as temporary or long-term alternatives to surgery.
- Outcome studies — Following people with hydrocephalus to understand how treatment affects development in children, or cognitive and physical function in adults.
- Imaging studies — Testing MRI or other imaging techniques to predict who needs treatment, detect shunt malfunction early, or guide surgical planning.
Recently added Hydrocephalus trials
Receive an automated drainage system during your shunt trial
The intellidrop device is an FDA-approved system that automates safe, small volume of cerebral spinal fluid drainage with continuous pressure monitoring, reducing nursing workload and human error while improving patient mobility and comfort
Receive a wireless skin sensor to monitor your shunt
This study is evaluating a new, noninvasive device designed to detect whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is flowing through a surgically implanted shunt. CSF shunts are commonly used to treat hydrocephalus, but it can be difficult to tell whether a shunt is working properly without invasive testing or imaging that does not directly measure flow. The study device is a small, wireless sensor placed on the skin over the shunt tubing, typically near the collarbone. It uses gentle, controlled warmth to measure temperature changes that indicate whether fluid is flowing inside the shunt. The device does not break the skin and does not change a participant's medical care. This study will enroll children and adults who already have a CSF shunt and who do not have new or worsening symptoms of shunt malfunction. All participants will have a measurement taken while their shunt valve is at its usual prescribed setting. Some participants with programmable shunt valves will also have a second measurement taken after their valve is temporarily adjusted to a setting intended to stop or greatly reduce flow ("virtual off"). After this measurement, the valve will be returned to its prescribed setting. The study device results will not be shown to participants or their medical providers and will not be used to make treatment decisions. The goal of the study is to determine how well the device can distinguish between shunts that are allowing flow and those that are not. Participants will be monitored for a short period after device use and, if applicable, after any valve adjustment. The main risks of participation are mild skin irritation from the adhesive or temporary symptoms related to valve adjustment. Participants are not expected to receive a direct medical benefit, but the information gained may help improve future diagnosis of shunt function.
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