I found out that Neurosurgeons in Malaysia do know how to operate the programmable VP shunt. This means that if, and only if I require a shunt, I may opt for a programmable one and not have to worry about adjusting the pressure valve locally after returning from surgery in L.A.
Dr. Lekovic will first have to check whether there is a membrane in my lateral ventricle by placing an endoscope through the brain during surgery. If there is a membrane interrupting the flow of CSF, then he will take down the membrane and put in a temporary catheter to help the fluids communicate with the rest of the fluid spaces in the brain so that the trapped fluids can flow as usual.
We will then perform a CT scan of the brain after surgery. If the fluids clear and everything is back to normal, then we can remove the temporary catheter.
But if the membrane comes back up, then he will have to replace the temporary catheter with a permanent VP shunt.
The fluids are collected near my hearing implant and implanting a shunt here is tricky. Dr. Lekovic knows my history very well and his experience with my case will help him make decisions along the way.
For example, what if he finds no membrane in the lateral ventricle? Then he will have to make a judgement there and then, based on my medical history and figure out what‘s causing the fluids to be trapped.
From my experience with Dr. Lekovic, I know that he will only do what’s necessary and leave out the unnecessary. I know this because that’s how he preserved my only functioning optic nerve and the vision in that eye.
In my sleep last night, I remembered how we preserved my vision and the memory filled me with a deep sense of peace and comfort.
