President’s Column
President’s Column 29 July 2026
Welcome to the Spring edition of the HSA newsletter. For those in the Southern states we are past the winter solstice and looking forward to the start of Spring in a month or so.
The next meeting of the association will be on Sunday 30th August and the topic will be a presentation from Integra about shunt surgery and their shunt products. The meeting will be online for everyone and face to face for people in Brisbane. It’s the first time Integra have presented to us and it is usually fascinating to see the technology that keeps us alive.
Recordings of the 2025 conference are now available on our website for members. There are many great sessions from experts and personal stories from our members. It’s a great resource to look back on.
A paper titled “Association of rurality with reduced shunt survival in child and young adult hydrocephalus: a prospective nationwide cohort from the Australasian Shunt Registry” has recently been published in the Journal of Neurosurgery. The paper is authored by Michael J. Stuart, Alison Wray, Mark Dexter and Robert A. J. Campbell who are prominent neurosurgeons.
They used the shunt registry data to investigate if there is a difference in shunt longevity between people living in metro vs rural/remote areas. The conclusion of the paper was that there is a statistical difference between the population with rural patients having an average shunt longevity of 5.04 years and metro getting 5.69 years. The paper does not investigate the reasons why this is the case and I’m sure we can speculate a lot of reasons why this is the case. Hopefully this paper leads onto other research into why this is the case.
Kitea health have let me know that they have funding for another trial of the Kitea sensor in New Zealand of approximately 150 people. There is a possibility that given the timeframe of the funding it might get extended to a paediatric and adult hospital in Australia. If that becomes the case I will pass on any further information I receive.
We have been forming a good relationship with Integra, who is a major shunt manufacturer, which developed after they heard about our 2025 conference. This has meant that we have had the opportunity to contribute to their Australian patient information booklets which I think is a great step from a large company like this.
In November the committee is having a face to face strategic planning workshop to set the strategic plan for the next 5 years, some items will continue from our previous plan but if you have something you would like us to add then please email me president@hydrocephalus.org.au before November.
Donate to the HSA from your recycling. We are now a donation partner for the container deposit schemes across VIC,NSW, QLD & WA. Recycling your bottles and cans with funds going to HSA has the potential to be a huge boost to our fundraising efforts. A few dollars a month from our hundreds of supporters can make an incredible difference. Centres accept beer cans, soft drink cans and bottles, tetra-paks and soon will be accepting wine bottles. To join in this low cost, low effort fundraising follow the link here.
https://hydrocephalus.org.au/news/donate-now-via-container-deposit-schemes/
I hope all of you are doing well health wise, for those who are not I wish you a swift recovery and best wishes from all at the HSA.
Andrew Garde
President.
Shunt Registry Update
Demographics - Gender
49.2% Male
50.2 % Female
0.6 gender removed (partial opt-out)
Demographics - Age
64.8% admissions >= 18 years
34.1 % admissions < 18 years
1.1 % Date of Birth removed (partial opt-out)
Operation Type
5092 Insertions
3114 Revisions
296 Removals
Clinical Diagnosis
Four most common reasons for admission
Haemorrhage 19.6%
Congenital 16.5%
Tumour 15.9%
INPH 17.8%
Number of Admissions
4971 One admission
862 Two
303 Three
121 Four
119 Five or more
Hydro Warrior Spotlight
Every journey with hydrocephalus is unique, but no one has to face it alone. At the Hydrocephalus Support Association (HSA), we recognise the strength and determination of those living with hydrocephalus — our Hydro Warriors. From managing day-to-day challenges to facing surgeries and hospital stays, these individuals show incredible resilience in the face of a lifelong condition.
Hydrocephalus may be part of their story, but it doesn’t define who they are or what they can achieve. Hydro Warriors are living proof that with the right support, no hurdle is insurmountable. Together, we share their stories to raise awareness, build understanding, and remind everyone in the community — you’re never alone.
Aydan Casey
I was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus in-utero. Which meant that from birth it was "all-systems go". Luckily my mother had her support network, particular my maternal grandmother who would become my staunchest advocate. I was lucky also to have secured as my Neurosurgeon...
Mary Smith
Interview of Mary by Wendy Brown on 26 March 2025 This interview was conducted with Mary who was recently diagnosed with hydrocephalus and kindly agreed to share her experiences so far. When were you first diagnosed with hydrocephalus? What age group were you in? I...
Maryann Bownds
I don’t normal put this out there. But with not much information knowing about Hydrocephalus (40- 50 age group) and NO CURE!! I thought it was time say something……. In 2016 at 47 years old, I was emergency rushed by plane to Melbourne ( 3hrs away from my home). After...
Latest Articles
First minimally invasive endovascular shunt for adult normal‑pressure hydrocephalus enters clinical use (USA)
First Minimally Invasive Shunt for Adult Hydrocephalus Enters Clinical Use Adults living with normal‑pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) may soon have a new treatment option. In early 2026, neurosurgeons in the United States began treating NPH patients with CereVasc’s eShunt...
If I Ever get Out Of This Place
"If I Ever Get Out Of This Place" Helen O'Toole is a long-standing member of the Hydrocephalus Support Association who spoke at our HSA Conference November 2025 about her Hydro journey and eventual ETV operation (Video available on HSA website). Helen has recently...
Kitea – First-in-human safety and efficacy trials
The Kitea Sensor A paper has been published in Nature Communications relating to the first-in-human safety and efficacy trial of the Kitea Sensor in adults and children with hydrocephalus authored by Simon Malpas et al. The report delves into Long Term Brain Pressure...
Upcoming Meetings
We’re excited to extend an invitation to all Hydrocephalus Support Association (HSA) members for our upcoming Member Meetings.
Most of our meetings are held online, with some offering both in-person and online options, allowing greater flexibility for members to attend. These gatherings are a cornerstone of our community, fostering connections and facilitating shared experiences. Attendees will also gain insight into HSA initiatives, learn about our impact on the Hydrocephalus community in Australia, and discover ways they can contribute to our mission.