AHN Adult Hydrocephalus Center

About the AHN Adult Hydrocephalus Center

At the Adult Hydrocephalus Center, we understand that a diagnosis of adult hydrocephalus—for yourself or a loved one—can raise many questions and concerns. You are not alone. Often referred to as "water on the brain," hydrocephalus is a complex neurological condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain's ventricles. This buildup increases pressure on the brain, potentially causing a range of symptoms and impacting neurological function.

Appointments

412-359-6200

Given the diverse symptoms of adult-onset hydrocephalus, such as difficulty walking or memory issues, our multidisciplinary team works closely together to give patients the best chance of reducing symptoms and improving their quality of life. For example, our neurology-certified physical therapist assesses patients alongside neurosurgeons in collaboration with movement disorder specialists.

This collaborative care model delivers state-of-the-art evaluation, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatments. These advanced tools include GAITRite¹, a specialized walkway and software system used to track patient mobility before and after treatment allowing us to support more patients.

The different types of hydrocephalus we treat include:

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH): Characterized by enlarged ventricles in older adults with normal or intermittently normal CSF pressure, leading to gait, urinary, and cognitive issues; often idiopathic but can follow brain injury or hemorrhage.
Obstructive hydrocephalus (non-communicating): Occurs when CSF flow is physically blocked within the ventricular system, preventing normal circulation; commonly caused by brain tumors, cysts, congenital aqueductal stenosis, or inflammation/scarring.
Communicating hydrocephalus: Results from impaired CSF absorption into the bloodstream after it leaves the ventricles, with no physical blockage within the ventricular system; frequently caused by subarachnoid hemorrhage, meningitis, or traumatic brain injury.

What is a hydrocephalus specialist?

A hydrocephalus specialist is an advanced medical expert — typically a neurosurgeon or neurologist with specialized training in cerebrospinal fluid disorders — who focuses on diagnosing and treating complex fluid-related conditions of the brain. They bring deep clinical expertise, precision in evaluating subtle symptoms, and mastery of both advanced surgical interventions and non-surgical management options to the table.

Our specialists offer more than clinical expertise. We combine our advanced medical expertise with genuine empathy, ensuring that every care plan is thoughtfully tailored to the individual patient and the specific type of hydrocephalus they have. AHN hydrocephalus specialists also focus on the nuanced treatment of different forms of the condition. Consulting a normal pressure hydrocephalus specialist, for example, helps older adults experiencing overlapping gait, urinary, and cognitive challenges receive the precise, targeted care necessary to restore mobility, independence, and overall quality of life.

GAITRite® software and hardware is a registered trademark of CIR Systems Inc.

Adult hydrocephalus care

At the AHN Adult Hydrocephalus Center, patients receive comprehensive medical care by our multidisciplinary team who specialize in the diagnosis and management of hydrocephalus. The goal of treating adult hydrocephalus is to relieve the pressure on the brain, manage symptoms, and prevent further damage. With effective treatment, many individuals with hydrocephalus can live full and productive lives.

Hydrocephalus testing and evaluation

If you are experiencing adult hydrocephalus symptoms a comprehensive clinical evaluation is the first step. During the evaluation, we review your medical history and discuss your concerns. The next step usually includes a thorough neurological examination that assesses your reflexes, balance, and cognitive function. Finally, advanced imaging studies, such as an MRI or CT scan, allow our team to visualize the brain's ventricles and check for cerebrospinal fluid buildup.

Monitoring movement

To precisely evaluate and monitor your mobility, our center utilizes advanced tools like GAITRite*. Unlike a standard treadmill, GAITRite is a specialized, low-profile walkway embedded with thousands of sensors. As you take a few natural walks across the pathway, the system instantly captures and analyzes detailed data regarding your stride, velocity, balance, and weight distribution. This technology allows our physicians to objectively track, process, and even replay your results before and after treatment, giving us a clear picture of your progress and helping us fine-tune your care.

Medicine management

The primary goal of treatment is to relieve pressure on the brain and effectively manage your daily symptoms. While surgical interventions are often a cornerstone of care, medications can also play an important role — particularly in helping to manage symptoms such as memory and cognitive difficulties or urinary incontinence. Because managing these conditions requires a holistic view of your health, our specialists work closely with your primary care physician to coordinate care and find the right medication regimen tailored specifically to you.

Hydrocephalus surgical treatments

If surgery is required, AHN has some of the most skilled and precise neurosurgeons available to perform the necessary treatment. Your hydrocephalus care is personalized and focused on your needs and specific type of adult hydrocephalus.

Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (EVT)

This approach is a surgical alternative to the shunt. In an ETV, an endoscope is introduced through a small hole in the skull into the third ventricle of the brain where a perforation is made in a membrane to restore normal flow of CSF. The entire procedure is performed using video guidance, and no device or hardware is implanted in the body. If successful, no revisions or replacements are necessary, and subsequent hospitalizations are markedly reduced. All patients with hydrocephalus in need of surgical treatment should be evaluated to see if they are eligible for an ETV prior to proceeding with shunt placement.

Cerebrospinal fluid shunting

The treatment of hydrocephalus generally focuses on diverting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) buildup away from the head by way of surgically placed tubes called shunts. Though effective, shunts require open surgery with incisions in both the scalp and abdomen. Patients with shunts should be regularly seen by a neurosurgeon so that they can be monitored to ensure proper shunt function.

Lumbar tap trial

A Lumbar tap trial (LTT) is a test commonly used to diagnose certain types of hydrocephalus. It consists of a spinal tap performed under local anesthesia. A small needle is placed into your back to access the spinal fluid space. The pressure within the spinal fluid space can then be measured. A large volume of spinal fluid is removed and sent for laboratory studies to make sure there are not any other abnormalities. Cognitive, motor tests, and standardized gait measures are performed before the spinal tap to establish your baseline and to see whether there is any improvement after the fluid is withdrawn. These same tests are repeated later that afternoon and again the next day. This trial may be recommended by your physician if you are displaying symptoms of hydrocephalus. The LTT is useful to confirm the diagnosis of hydrocephalus and to further assess if any surgical treatment could alleviate some of your symptoms.

How to get care

If you want to be tested for or have been diagnosed with adult hydrocephalus, we’re here to help.

Schedule an appointment

To schedule an appointment or learn more about services at the AHN Hydrocephalus Center, call AHN Neurosurgery at 412-359-6200.

Our location

AHN Adult Hydrocephalus Center
Allegheny General Hospital
320 East North Avenue
Hemlock Building, 2nd Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
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What to expect at your new patient visit

When you receive care AHN Neuroscience, you’re working with board-certified neurologists, neurosurgeons, and pain management physicians who can deliver highly specialized treatments using the latest, most advanced technologies. We recommend that you bring a trusted friend or family member to attend any appointment, but we do not recommend taking young children who cannot be left unattended in the waiting rooms.

We encourage you to sign up for AHN MyChart access where you can complete some new patient paperwork and questionnaires through MyChart web portal or MyChart smartphone app.

Plan to arrive at the check in desk about 30 minutes prior to the start of your appointment. That provides enough time for the necessary intake information. Even if you use the e-Check in through MyChart, we ask that you arrive at a check in desk 15 minutes before the start of your appointment to make sure we have your appropriate information.

What to take to your first visit

We recommend that you bring a trusted friend or family member to attend any appointment, but we do not recommend taking young children who cannot be left unattended in the waiting rooms. There are also certain items and paperwork you’ll want to have with you, so our office staff and healthcare team have your necessary information.

Required identification and payment

In order to process your information and start your appointment on time, please bring:

Insurance cards
Photo ID
Copay (no cash accepted)

Medical information and records

Please bring copies of previous medical records, including office visit notes, lab work, hospital stay summaries, and radiology reports from outside health organizations. You’ll also want to have a complete list of medications and supplements, including dosing amounts.

For worker’s compensation or auto claim purposes, please have: date of injury, claim number, billing address, name and phone number of claims adjuster

Imaging studies

If you have had imaging studies done at outside of Allegheny Health Network imaging locations, you will need to:

Contact the imaging facility and request a physical disc with the imaging and Radiologist report
Some sites will require a few days to a week’s notice before you can pick up the disc
If you do not have copies of imaging, your initial evaluation will be incomplete, and we may need to schedule additional appointments.

AHN Hydrocephalus Center Appointments and Access

Learn more about our appointment options, locations, and resources that are at your disposal.

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