SA - pressure setting

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SHUNTASSISTANT (SA) - recommended pressure levels

The SHUNTASSISTANT is available in different pressure settings.

Standard

opening pressure
SHUNTASSISTANT
( cmH₂O)

children up to 5 years of age and
adults over 60 years of age

children over 5 years of age and
adults up to 60 years of age

Reading the pressure setting from an X-ray image

The opening pressure level is denoted by code rings, which are visible in the X-ray image.
The paedi-SHUNTASSISTANT (Fig. 1) is smaller and coded differently to the SHUNTASSISTANT (Fig. 2). The (paedi-)SHUNTASSISTANT is calibrated in accordance with strict quality control standards.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Both SHUNTASSISTANT variants are available in the following pressure settings:

opening pressure
(cmH₂O)

coding
paedi-SHUNTASSISTANT
in X-ray image

opening pressure
(cmH₂O)

coding
SHUNTASSISTANT
in X-ray image

The recommended pressure level, suitable for the individual patient, should be calculated as follows:
	Measure the distance between Foramen Monroi and
	midriff (e.g. 42 cm)

	Subtract the opening pressure of the DP-valve
	(e.g. 10 cmH₂O)

	42 cm - 10 cmH₂O = 32 cmH₂O

	Once again subtract 5 cmH₂O, because the IVP in
	the upright position is slightly negative

	32 cmH₂O - 5 cmH₂O = 27 cmH₂O

	The SHUNTASSISTANT with the most appropriate
	opening pressure should be chosen according to
	this calculation (in this case: 25 cmH₂O)


Fig. 3 shows the measurement between Foramen Monroi and midriff

Fig. 3
DPV - Differential pressure valve
SA - SHUNTASSISTANT
FM - Foramen Monroi
MI - midriff

Recommended pressure levels:

distance between Foramen Monroi and midriff in cm	opening pressure of the DP-valve (cmH₂O)
distance between Foramen Monroi and midriff in cm	5	7	10	13	16

< 28	15	15	10	10	10

28 - 32	20	15	15	15	10

33 - 37	25	20	20	20	15

38 - 42	30	25	25	25	20

43 - 47	35	30	30	30	25

48 - 52	35	35	35	35	30

> 53	35	35	35	35	35

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