‘It’s more than hope; it’s a promise’: UCalgary researchers publish brain shunt study

A Calgary senior says she has her life back after getting a shunt put in her brain as part of a major research study.

A Calgary senior says she has her life back after getting a shunt put into her brain as part of a major research study that’s just been published in the distinguished New England Journal of Medicine.

Jill Knaus used to need a walker and moved herself into an independent care facility because she had occasional falls.

“It was like getting old before your time; I couldn’t walk without shuffling. I couldn’t control my body functions,” said 79-year-old Knaus.

She was diagnosed with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH).

It’s a buildup of fluid near the brain, and in cases like hers, there is no known cause.

Knaus joined a study at the University of Calgary and underwent surgery to insert a brain shunt.

Now that buildup of fluid is drained away into her abdomen.

“My doctor told me there’s three things I can’t do: I can’t play professional football or hockey, and skydiving is out. Other than that, I can do whatever I feel I can do!” she said.

Researchers say they are pleased with the early results.

“I do all kinds of different neurosurgery; this is the most gratifying type of neurosurgery to do,” said Dr. Mark Hamilton from the department of clinical neurosciences at the Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary.

Hamilton is one of the lead investigators in the brain shunt study.

Of the 99 participants, half were in the control group, and their shunts did not drain fluid.

Hamilton said their conditions did not improve.

He estimates there are 130,000 Canadians dealing with iNPH without effective treatment.

“We’re not addressing even a fraction of that. I want other centres to start doing the same thing we are doing,” he said.

He says having the randomized trial results published in the New England Journal of Medicine will provide doctors and patients with guidance and hope.

“It’s more than hope; it’s a promise that it will make your life so much better,” he said.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and was conducted across Canada, parts of the United States and Sweden.