Aerial view of Vancouver General Hospital Campus

The Hydrocephalus Clinic is to provide acute/post-operative services to Hydrocephalus patients. Clinic services include a full consultation, a follow-up and surgery if needed.

How to access

  • Get a referral

    Have your health care provider fill out the Hydrocephalus Clinic referral form.

    Please attach all physician notes, recent lab, diagnostic, and radiology results, current medications and problem lists. Incomplete referral information may delay the patient's appointment. 

    Use the referral form and include original consult reports. The first appointment must be in person if the patient is accepted into our program. 

Hours of operation

Clinic days: Every Friday and every first and third Tuesday of the month

Clinic hours: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

VGH Hydrocephalus Clinic triage guide

All patients referred to VGH Adult Hydrocephalus Clinic should have the following three criteria, please fax all documents below to us:

  1. CT or MRI brain, done within the last 12 months, that shows the following:
    • Enlarged ventricles consistent with hydrocephalus, either communicating or obstructive OR,
    • Any lesion (i.e. tumour, cyst, colloid cyst, etc.) within the ventricular system of the brain (i.e. Within or adjacent to the lateral, third and/or fourth ventricle OR,
    • Any patient with a “shunt” within their brain (i.e. ventriculoperitoneal, ventriculopleural or ventriculoatrial shunt).
  2. History and physical, including a neurological examination done by one of the following specialists:
    • Neurosurgeon
    • Neurologist
    • Geriatrician
    • Internal medical specialist
    • Physiatrist/rehabilitation specialist
    • Nurse Practitioner
  3. List of current medications, including any use of:
    • Aspirin
    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs, i.e., Advil, Aleve, etc.)
    • Blood thinning agents (i.e. Coumadin, Warfarin, Rivaroxaban)

The waitlist for the adult hydrocephalus clinic is 12-18 months.

Resources

    • Hydrocephalus Clinic referral form

    • Hydrocephalus Clinic triage guide

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.

Hydrocephalus Clinic

The Hydrocephalus Clinic is to provide acute/post-operative services to Hydrocephalus patients. Clinic services include a full consultation, a follow-up and surgery if needed.