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Best Neurosurgeons for Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement in Bengaluru, India

This page lists 3 ventriculoperitoneal (vp) shunt placement doctors in Bengaluru, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

Quick answer

This page lists 3 ventriculoperitoneal (vp) shunt placement doctors in Bengaluru, India. Review each doctor's experience, specialty and hospital, then contact our care team for help with the next step.

About Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement doctors in Bengaluru, India

This directory is based on doctors currently listed in GAF Healthcare's registry. Clinical suitability varies by patient; a doctor should review your history and investigations before any treatment decision.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement doctors

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Dr. Bharat Subramanya

MBBS, DNB in Neurosurgery, Fellowship in Neurosurgery
Consultant, Neurosurgery · Specialty: Neurosurgeon
Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road Bengaluru, India12+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 12+ years of experience in Neurosurgeon
  • Currently serving as Consultant, Neurosurgery at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru — one of India's leading multispecialty hospitals.
  • Completed an advanced Fellowship in Neurosurgery at Park Clinic, Kolkata, gaining specialised exposure to complex cranial and spinal procedures.
Expertise & Procedures
  • Brain Tumour Surgery
  • Endoscopic Brain Surgery
  • Pituitary Tumour Surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
View all procedures →
Neurosurgeon Experience: 12+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta RoadHospital accreditation: JCI, NABH
View Profile Book a Consultation
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Dr. Ganesh Krishna Murthy

MBBS, MS (General Surgery), MCh (Neurosurgery)
Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery · Specialty: Neurosurgeon
Medicover Hospitals, Whitefield Bengaluru, India37+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 37+ years of experience in Neurosurgeon
  • Currently serving as Senior Consultant Neurosurgeon at Medicover Hospitals, Whitefield, Bengaluru.
  • Has held senior neurosurgery positions across leading hospitals in Bengaluru over a career spanning more than three decades.
Expertise & Procedures
  • Brain Tumour Surgery
  • Glioma Surgery
  • Meningioma Surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)
View all procedures →
Neurosurgeon Experience: 37+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Medicover Hospitals, Whitefield
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Dr. Gowtham Raman S

MBBS, DNB (Neurosurgery)
Consultant, Brain & Spine Surgery · Specialty: Neurosurgeon
Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road Bengaluru, India10+ Years experience
Why consider this doctor?
  • 10+ years of experience in Neurosurgeon
  • Currently serving as Consultant, Brain & Spine Surgery at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bengaluru.
  • Accumulated 10+ years of clinical and surgical experience managing complex brain and spine conditions.
Expertise & Procedures
  • Brain Tumour Surgery
  • Craniotomy
  • Brain Aneurysm Clipping
  • Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) Surgery
  • Spinal Disc Surgery
View all procedures →
Neurosurgeon Experience: 10+ YearsHospital Affiliation: Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta RoadHospital accreditation: JCI, NABH
View Profile Book a Consultation

Hospitals where these doctors practise

Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road🇮🇳 Bangalore, India
Starting from$4,500

Apollo Hospital, Bannerghatta Road

Est. 2007
JCI — Joint Commission International accreditationNABH — National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers accreditation
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt PlacementNeurosurgeryCardiac SurgeryCardiology
2+
Doctors for Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement
4.2
25 reviews
250+
Beds
19+
Years Since Founded
Dr. Bharat SubramanyaDr. Gowtham Raman S
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Why consider treatment in India?

Many international patients consider India for hydrocephalus treatment for several reasons, including:

More affordable estimates

Competitive indicative costs compared with many other countries, for similar clinical standards.

Internationally accredited hospitals

Hospitals experienced in treating international patients.

Experienced specialists

Doctors who regularly manage similar cases.

Care coordination support

A team to help with planning, medical translation and follow-up.

About the Procedure

What is Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement?

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is a neurosurgical procedure used to treat hydrocephalus by diverting excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain's ventricles to the peritoneal cavity, where it is safely absorbed. It relieves harmful pressure on the brain, prevents further neurological damage, and is performed in both children and adults with congenital, acquired, or normal-pressure hydrocephalus. The procedure is minimally invasive, typically takes 1-2 hours, and is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical interventions in India.

Who may be considered?

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement may be considered after a qualified specialist reviews your reports and medical history. Suitability varies from person to person and must be assessed by your treating doctor.

How does it work?

A catheter is placed into the brain ventricle and tunneled under the skin to the abdominal cavity, using a fixed-pressure valve to regulate CSF drainage. This is the standard, time-tested approach used worldwide for both pediatric and adult hydrocephalus.

2 approaches available for this procedure:

Standard (Fixed-Pressure Valve) VP Shunt Placement

Most Common

A catheter is placed into the brain ventricle and tunneled under the skin to the abdominal cavity, using a fixed-pressure valve to regulate CSF drainage. This is the standard, time-tested approach used worldwide for both pediatric and adult hydrocephalus.

Comprehensive Investigations

Estimated cost: $150 - $400

MRI brain, CT brain, CSF analysis, blood tests (CBC, coagulation profile, kidney/liver function), ECG, chest X-ray, pediatric/anesthesia fitness assessment

Treatment / Procedure Estimate

Estimated cost in India: $4,500 - $7,000

Stay in India

Pre-procedure stay (outside hospital): ~1-2 days
Hospitalisation: ~4-5 days
Recovery period (outside hospital): ~10-14 days recommended
Total stay: approx 15-20 days

Usually Included in Hospital Package

  • Surgeon and anesthesiologist fees
  • Operating room and standard fixed-pressure shunt kit
  • Hospital stay in private/semi-private room
  • Post-op nursing care and monitoring
  • Standard pre-op investigations

Usually Not Included

  • International travel and visa costs
  • Accommodation for attendant/family outside hospital
  • Programmable valve upgrade (if later required)
  • Post-discharge follow-up visits or shunt revision surgery
  • Any additional imaging due to complications

Recovery and follow-up

Most patients are mobilized within 1-2 days after surgery, with hospital discharge typically in 4-6 days, followed by suture removal and a follow-up MRI/CT scan within 2-4 weeks to confirm proper shunt function. Strenuous activity should be avoided for about 4-6 weeks, and lifelong periodic monitoring of shunt function is recommended.

Risks

Potential risks include shunt infection, blockage or mechanical failure requiring revision surgery, over-drainage or under-drainage of CSF, and rarely bleeding or seizures; long-term follow-up is essential as shunt malfunction can occur years after placement.

Alternatives

Depending on the cause of hydrocephalus, alternatives may include endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), which avoids implanting a permanent shunt in select patients, or temporary external ventricular drainage (EVD) for acute cases; the suitability of each option depends on individual imaging and clinical findings.

What we need to prepare a formal estimate

Share whatever you have — the care team will confirm the final checklist after reviewing your case.

Reports required

  • Recent MRI brain (with hydrocephalus protocol)
  • CT brain scan
  • Detailed neurosurgeon consultation notes
  • History of any prior shunt surgeries or CSF diversion procedures
  • CSF analysis report (if previously done)
  • Complete blood count (CBC) and coagulation profile
  • Current medication list and allergy history
  • General physical fitness/anesthesia clearance report

Patient information needed

  • Patient's age and weight (critical for pediatric shunt sizing)
  • Cause/type of hydrocephalus (congenital, acquired, NPH, etc.)
  • Presence and severity of symptoms (headache, vomiting, gait/cognitive changes)
  • History of prior brain surgery, trauma, or infection
  • Any existing shunt device details (if revision is needed)
  • Current medications and known drug allergies
  • Insurance or payment plan preference
  • Availability of an accompanying attendant for travel

Costs shown are indicative planning estimates based on typical pricing across leading Indian hospitals. They are not a quote — actual pricing depends on your case complexity, hospital choice, and length of stay. Share your reports for a personalized estimate.

Want a formal estimate?

Share your reports and patient information so our care coordination team can review your case.

How this directory is built

Doctors are matched using the specialty, location, condition (Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement) and procedure (Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement) recorded in their profiles. Inclusion is not an endorsement and does not guarantee a treatment outcome.

Need help with the next step?

Share your needs with our care coordination team for information about doctors and hospitals.

Common questions

FAQs about Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement in Bengaluru, India

What is Hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is the pathological build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in and around the brain, causing the ventricles (fluid-filled spaces) to enlarge and increasing pressure within the skull. It is not a single disease but a condition with multiple possible underlying causes, each influencing the appropriate treatment approach.
What are the symptoms and health risks of Hydrocephalus?
Symptoms vary considerably with age and how quickly pressure builds: infants may show a rapidly enlarging head, bulging fontanelle, and downward-deviated eyes, while older children and adults more commonly experience persistent headaches (often worse in the morning), nausea, vomiting, blurred or double vision, difficulty walking, and declining memory or cognition. In older adults with normal-pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), the classic triad of gait instability, urinary incontinence, and progressive cognitive decline is often described. It is important to note that these symptoms overlap with many other neurological conditions and cannot be used alone to confirm a diagnosis — formal evaluation by a qualified specialist is necessary.
How is Hydrocephalus diagnosed?
Diagnosis is established through a combination of clinical assessment and neuroimaging, most commonly MRI or CT scanning, which can reveal ventricular enlargement (measured using indices such as the Evans index), identify any obstructing lesion, and help distinguish obstructive (non-communicating) from absorptive (communicating) hydrocephalus. Lumbar puncture may be performed to measure opening CSF pressure and, in suspected NPH, to assess whether temporary CSF drainage produces symptomatic improvement — a useful predictive test before surgery. Additional investigations such as intracranial pressure monitoring or CSF flow studies may be recommended depending on the clinical picture; the appropriate workup is determined on an individual basis by the treating team.
How is Hydrocephalus treated?
Treatment is tailored to the underlying cause, the type of hydrocephalus, the patient's age, and overall clinical condition, and should always be guided by a qualified neurosurgeon following thorough assessment. Where surgery is indicated, the two most established procedures are ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement — which diverts excess CSF from the brain to the abdominal cavity via a valve-regulated tube — and endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV), which creates an internal bypass within the brain to restore CSF flow without an implanted device. ETV is generally preferred in obstructive hydrocephalus in suitable candidates, while shunting remains the standard approach for many communicating and complex cases; individual suitability for each procedure depends on factors including patient age, the ETV Success Score (ETVSS), and underlying anatomy.
Can Hydrocephalus be treated without a procedure?
In the majority of symptomatic hydrocephalus cases, surgery is the definitive and often essential treatment, as there is no reliable long-term non-surgical pathway for most forms of the condition. However, in carefully selected situations — such as mild or slowly progressive communicating hydrocephalus, or as a short-term bridge measure — medications that temporarily reduce CSF production (such as acetazolamide) may be used under close specialist supervision, though evidence for their sustained benefit is limited. Watchful waiting with regular clinical and imaging review may also be appropriate in very mild or incidentally detected cases, but this decision must be made by a qualified specialist based on the full clinical picture.
When is Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement considered for Hydrocephalus?
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Placement may be considered only when it is appropriate for the confirmed diagnosis and the expected benefit outweighs the individual risks. The decision may depend on symptom severity, investigation results, previous treatment, overall health and the patient's goals. A specialist should discuss alternatives and recovery before any procedure is planned.
Which doctor treats Hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is primarily evaluated and managed by a neurosurgeon, specifically one with experience in CSF disorders and neuro-endoscopy. In complex or congenital cases — particularly in children — a multidisciplinary team including a pediatric neurosurgeon, neurologist, and neuro-ophthalmologist may be involved in ongoing care.
How do I choose a doctor for Hydrocephalus?
When selecting a specialist for hydrocephalus, look for a neurosurgeon with documented experience in both shunt surgery and endoscopic procedures (such as ETV), affiliated with a centre that offers neuroimaging, neuro-intensive care support, and structured long-term follow-up — as shunt revision and monitoring are often needed over time. Asking about a surgeon's case volume for your specific type and age group, their complication management protocols, and the availability of a multidisciplinary team can help you make a more informed comparison.
What documents do international patients need to share for a medical evaluation?
Share a concise medical summary, symptom timeline, previous diagnoses, investigation and imaging reports, procedure or biopsy reports where relevant, current medicines, allergies and related treatment records. Provide clear copies with translations when needed. The reviewing doctor may request additional information before giving an opinion.
How does GAF Healthcare help international patients plan treatment in India?
Our care coordination team can review the initial information, help identify suitable doctors and hospitals, request a medical opinion where available, explain next steps and indicative cost information, and support practical planning before travel. A remote opinion does not replace an in-person examination or emergency care.
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