Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is surgery to relieve increased pressure inside the skull due to excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain (hydrocephalus), which can lead to brain damage. Hydrocephalus can occur for many reasons, including brain tumors, bleeding inside the brain, and meningitis. These conditions lead to hydrocephalus through disruption of the delicate balance between production and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.