Post Operative Care Patient Instructions
During surgery to place your VP shunt, the surgeon potentially creates a communication between your paranasal sinuses and your brain. It can take six weeks for that pathway to seal and protect the lining of the brain from the outside world. Until that time, it is important to avoid putting undue stress on that pathway.

For this reason, we recommend the following for six weeks after surgery:

• No running, but you should do plenty of walking and light activity.
• No lifting greater than 5 pounds.
• No bending such that the head is lower than the heart.
• Do not submerge your head under a pool of water, showering is okay.
• Avoid straining.
• If you are going to sneeze, do not internalize it, expel the air.
• Do not place anything directly into your nose.
• You may expect some light, blood tinged discharge from your nose, this is normal. Be certain to gently dab the outside of your nose. Do not blow your nose.

After you leave the hospital, please call the doctor immediately if you experience any of the following:

• Clear, water-like fluid dripping from the nose.
• Fever greater than 101.0.
• Fever of any kind with a headache or stiff neck.
• Loss of vision.
• It is normal to feel tired, and require more rest than usual for the first six weeks after surgery. With a little rest, full recovery from a craniotomy is the norm.

Call with any questions or concerns (619) 810-1010