An abnormal or surgically created passage between two normally unconnected body parts.
Passage of blood through a channel that is not its normal one. This may occur as a result of a congenital deformity (see SEPTAL DEFECT) or of surgery – for example, a porto-caval shunt in which the main portal vein is joined up to the inferior vena cava.
n. a passage connecting two anatomical channels or sites, thus diverting blood or other fluid (e.g. cerebrospinal fluid) from one to the other. It may occur as a congenital abnormality (as in *septal defects of the heart) or be surgically created; for example, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is created to transfer excess cerebrospinal fluid in hydrocephalus from the ventricles to the peritoneum. See also anastomosis.
A term used when a hole in the septum (internal wall) of the HEART allows blood to ?ow from the systemic circulation properly con?ned to the left side of the heart to the pulmonary circulation, con?ned to the right. The shunt is usually detected by hearing a murmur, and the diagnosis con?rmed by ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY (see also SEPTAL DEFECT).... left to right shunt
nephritis associated with infected indwelling shunts. The infection is usually with staphylococci (S. epidermidis) and patients present with anorexia, malaise, arthralgia, and low-grade fever. Purpura, anaemia, and hepatosplenomegaly may be found and urine analysis shows heavy proteinuria, often with a *nephrotic syndrome and haematuria. Treatment usually involves removal of the infected shunt as well as antibiotics.... shunt nephritis
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