Comparing two tests for blocked brain shunts in normal pressure hydrocephalus
Tests how well ShuntCheck finds blocked shunts in people with normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- University of South Florida
- Where
- Tampa, United StatesSee the site
- Trial code
- Registry title
- Diagnostic Accuracy of ShuntCheck Compared to Radionuclide Shunt: Patency in Patients With Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 20 people, planned
- Started
- 24 Jan 2020
- Expected to end
- Jan 2027
- Type of study
- Observational
- Treatments tested
- ShuntCheck
- Record updated
- 18 May 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with normal pressure hydrocephalus (fluid build-up in the brain) who have a VP shunt that may be blocked. It tests whether ShuntCheck finds a blocked shunt as well as a radionuclide shunt test.
- Age
- 40 years or older
- Sex
- Men and women
- Disease stage
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus treated with a VP shunt (a tube draining brain fluid to the belly), with a suspected blockage of the shunt.
- Earlier treatment
- Must already have a VP shunt placed for normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Main reasons for not taking part
- More than one shunt, or more than one shunt tube crossing the collarbone on the same side as the suspected blocked shunt
- The ShuntCheck test would get in the way of standard care
- Emergency shunt surgery is needed and cannot be delayed
- An open wound or swelling over any part of the VP shunt that would get in the way of the test
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 5 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- Men or women 40 yo or older and have a VP shunt placed for NPH and are suspected of shunt obstruction
- Capable of providing valid signed informed consent, or has a legal guardian, health care agent, or surrogate decision maker (according to local statutes, and collectively referred to as "surrogates" in this protocol) capable of providing valid, signed informed consent
Who cannot take part
- ShuntCheck test would interfere with standard patient care, or emergency shunt surgery that cannot be delayed is indicated
- Presence of multiple shunts, or presence of more than one distal shunt catheter (regardless of function) crossing the clavicle ipsilateral to the shunt with suspected obstruction
- Presence of an interfering open wound or edema over any portion of the VP shunt
Where in United States
- University of South Florida Department of Neurological Surgery and Brain RepairTampa, United StatesContact: Naomi Abel, MDTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
The purpose of this study is to assess the diagnostic accuracy of ShuntCheck compared with radionuclide shunt patency testing (SPS) to detect CSF shunt flow of NPH patients with suspected shunt obstruction.
The group in the trial
- ShuntCheck
Participants will be administered the ShuntCheck diagnostic test.
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- Diagnostic Accuracy of ShuntCheck Compared With Radionuclide Shunt Patency Test to Detect Shunt Flow Obstruction in Patients With Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus - A Cross-sectional Analytic Study
- Plain-language title
- Comparing two tests for blocked brain shunts in normal pressure hydrocephalusGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 14 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 18 May 2026