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 System as part of a multicentre clinical trial called STRIDE. This is described as the first new treatment for NPH in more than 70 years, offering a minimally invasive alternative to traditional shunts that drain fluid from the brain to the abdomen.
The eShunt is placed through a small incision in the leg. An implant is guided through a vein to the base of the skull, where it helps drain excess cerebrospinal fluid directly into a nearby vein, relieving pressure on the brain. The STRIDE trial is comparing this endovascular approach head‑to‑head with standard shunts at 32 sites across the US, Canada and Argentina, with results expected after follow‑up is complete.
For Australians, this technology is not yet available locally, but it highlights a global push toward less invasive options that could mean shorter recovery times and fewer abdominal complications if approved and adopted in future. Your neurosurgical team can advise on current best‑practice options and whether similar trials might become available in Australia.
Sources: Indiana University School of Medicine report on the STRIDE trial (Jan 2026); CereVasc press release on trial completion (June 2026).