A device and system for flushing a shunt catheter utilizes the available cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to flush a blocked catheter. The CSF is pressurized to a predetermined amount and then allowed to suddenly, rapidly and forcefully purge any occlusions. The rapid release of CSF produces flow jets from the catheter pores into the ventricle. This impulse, or "cough", will push and divert choroid plexus and/or other blockages away from the pores. The device and system may then be allowed to refill at a slow rate, thus reducing the possibility of rapid suction of fluid back into the system and the attendant possibility of drawing the choroid plexus back into the pores. The catheter at the proximal end may also include back-up pores that can be opened to restart flow from the ventricle should the primary pores remain blocked after a flushing attempt.
