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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Smoking Effects VP Shunt?

Hello,
My daughter and has started smoking Hookah/ flavored tobacco. I know this is a bad health choice and can be more dangerous than cigarettes/ CDC report. Anyway, she has VP shunt. Aside from the increased of cancer and other common health risks associated with smoking...how will or can this effect her shunt. She is 19...help!
Mon, 9 Jun 2014
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Anesthesiologist,  's  Response
Hello, I'd like to help you with your question. Aside from the cancer concerns, it is very unlikely that smoking would clinically alter the functioning of a VP shunt. While smoking can cause an increase in carbon dioxide levels, which would stimulate blood flow to the brain, the actual pressure of blood in the brain is maintianed across a wide range of blood pressures. That means that the voulme of CSF stays relatively constant.

As such smoking will not likely cause her to over or under shunt.


I hope this helps.
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Does Smoking Effects VP Shunt?

Hello, I d like to help you with your question. Aside from the cancer concerns, it is very unlikely that smoking would clinically alter the functioning of a VP shunt. While smoking can cause an increase in carbon dioxide levels, which would stimulate blood flow to the brain, the actual pressure of blood in the brain is maintianed across a wide range of blood pressures. That means that the voulme of CSF stays relatively constant. As such smoking will not likely cause her to over or under shunt. I hope this helps.