Ammar shunt: an option to overcome shunt complications in premature and term neonates.

It has been hypothesized, and generally accepted, that the final outcome of the treatment of hydrocephalus is to a great extent related to the earliness of intervention and treatment. However, there is special concern regarding the higher risk of infection and shunt malfunctions in neonates as compared with older infants. Therefore, two new shunt systems have been designed specifically to tip the balance in favor of early shunting. The first shunt is made for premature neonates and the second for neonates in general. The general characteristics of these two shunts are: (1) the entire shunt is a low-pressure valve, with double distal slit valves; (2) the shunts are made of soft silicon material; (3) they are of very small configuration, without any compressing elements which may lead to skin necrosis over the shunt; (4) no metal has been used in them, so they are MRI compatible.