• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제43권3호
• /
• pp.159-161
• /
• 2008

A cerebrospinal fluid hydrothorax is a very rare complication following ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt and usually reported in children. We report a case of 47-year-old woman who developed massive hydrothorax and respiratory distress following intrathoracic migration of distal shunt catheter. After the confirmation of catheter in thoracic cavity using radionuclide shuntogram, the patient was successfully treated with laparoscopic shunt catheter reposition.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제41권5호
• /
• pp.314-317
• /
• 2007

Ventriculoperitoneal [VP] shunt is a common treatment for hydrocephalic patients. However, complications, such as shunt tube occlusion, infection, intracranial hemorrhage, seizure can occur. Of these, intracranial hemorrhage may occur due to intracranial vascular injury or a rapid decrease of intracranial pressure [ICP]. Most of these hemorrhages are subdural hematomas [SDH] while a few are epidural hematomas [EDH]. It is extremely rare for an intracranial hemorrhage to occur due to an extension of the bleeding from an injured extracranial vessel. We report two cases of EDH due to occipital artery injury following VP shunt and extraventricular drainage [EVD].

• 대한두개안면성형외과학회지
• /
• 제18권3호
• /
• pp.186-190
• /
• 2017

We report a case of free flap deterioration which may have been induced by pressure gradient resulting from cranial defect overlying a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt). The patient, male and aged 78, had a VP shunt operation for progressive hydrocephalus. Afterwards, the scalp skin flap surrounding the VP shunt collapsed and showed signs of necrosis, exposing part of the shunt catheter. After covering the defect with a radial forearm free flap, the free flap site showed signs of gradual sinking while the vascularity of the flap remained unimpaired. An agreement was reached to remove the shunt device and observe the patient for any neurological symptoms, and after the shunt was removed and the previous cranial opening filled with fibrin glue by Neurosurgery, we debrided the deteriorated flap and provided coverage with 2 large opposing rotational flaps. During 2 months' outpatient follow-up no neurological symptoms appeared, and the new scalp flap displayed slight depression but remained intact. The patient has declined from any further follow-up since.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제64권1호
• /
• pp.120-124
• /
• 2021

Objective : Infection is one of most devastating complications in ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. Preoperative hair removal has traditionally been performed to reduce infectious complications. We performed VP shunt surgeries and evaluated the prevalence of infection in patients who were shaved and those who were unshaven. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted of 82 patients with hydrocephalus of various pathologies who underwent VP shunt surgery, with or without having the head shaved, between March 2010 and March 2017. For patients in the non-shaved group (n=36), absorbable suture materials were used for wound closure, and Nylon sutures or staples were used in the shaved group (n=46). We evaluated the infection outcomes of patients in the two groups. Results : There was no difference in the average age of patients in the two groups. In the non-shaved group, there were no infections, while two patients in the shaved group required revision because of shunt infection. Conclusion : Non-shaved shunt surgery may be safe and effective, with no increase of infection rate. We recommend that shunt procedures could be performed without shaving the hair, which may increase patients' satisfaction without increasing infection risk.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.89-94
• /
• 2000

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt(VP shunt) for hydrocephalus is thought to inhibit the closure of processus vaginalis and promote inguinal hernia by increasing intraabdominal pressure. To estimate the patency rate of processus vaginalis and the incidence and characteristics of the inguinal hernia, 262 cases of VP shunt in early childhood between January 1980 and May 1998 at Seoul National University Children Hospital were reviewed retrospectively. Inguinal hernia developed in 28 cases(10.7 %), but six patients had an inguinal hernia before the VP shunt was placed. Patients who had a VP shunt before 6 months of age developed inguinal hernia in 16.2 %(12/74) of cases, patients shunted between 6 months and 2 years had an incidence of 12.4 %(11/89) and only 5.1 %(5/99) of patients operated upon after 2 years of age developed hernias. Twenty-two patients out of 256 cases (8.6 %) developed inguinal hernia after VP shunt, with male predominance(M : F=4.5:1). Eight patients developed inguinal hernia bilaterally(36.4 %). It is suggested that at least 14% of processus vaginalis is patent until 2 years old.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권11호
• /
• pp.1345-1347
• /
• 2001

Ventriculoperitoneal(VP) shunting has been associated with a variety of complications. CSF ascites secondary to VP shunting is very rare. We report a case of 68-year-old man with VP shunt in whom subclinical peritoneal infection presented with ascites. The patient was treated successfully with antibiotics and removal of the shunt. CSF ascites complicating VP shunt is reviewed and the pathogenesis of this condition is discussed.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제41권1호
• /
• pp.47-49
• /
• 2007

The authors describe a rare case of tension pneumocephalus, caused by ventriculoperitoneal[V-P] shunting for communicating hydrocephalus. The patient had a history of a right frontal skull fracture and pneumocephalus after a traffic accident five months prior to the present presentation of gait disturbance and memory impairment. A CT scan showed hydrocephalus and a V-P shunt was put in place. On the fourth day after surgery, the mental status of the patient gradually deteriorated due to a tension pneumocephalus; this was treated by repairing a fistula in the frontal sinus and a dural defect. The patient's mental status improved and symptoms were completely recovered. We report a case of tension pneumocephalus following V-P shunt for hydrocephalus in a patient who sustained a right frontal skull fracture.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제30권sup2호
• /
• pp.364-367
• /
• 2001

A 4-month-old female patient admitted because of hydrocephalus. She was premature infant with germinal matrix hemorrhage at gestational period 27 wks. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt with a low-pressure type valve was placed. Follow-up CT scan obtained 3 months after VP shunt placement, revealed a new Lt. middle cranial fossa cyst. The girl was readmitted to hospital at 7 months after VP shunt placement, complaining of lethargy and vomiting. A CT scan was demonstrated a increase in size of a cyst, She subsequently underwent a left-sided pterional craniotomy with partial excision of membrane and cyst fenestration into the basal cisterns. Follow-up CT scan after 18 months revealed reaccumulation of cyst, the girl was reoperated on. After 2 months, the size of cyst was not decreased. Finally, She underwent a cystoperitoneal shunt. Follow-up CT scan after 5 months was demonstrated disappeared cyst and reexpansion of brain parenchyma. We report the development of a symptomatic sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst developed after ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제50권4호
• /
• pp.385-387
• /
• 2011

Leptomeningeal metastasis is a devastating complication of advanced stage cancer. It is frequently accompanied by hydrocephalus and intracranial hypertension that must be treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunts. However, there are actual risks of peritoneal seeding or accumulation of malignant ascites after the cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedure, though it has not been reported. Here, we present the case of a patient with non-small cell lung cancer with leptomeningeal metastasis in whom malignant ascites developed after a subduroperitoneal shunt.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• 제57권5호
• /
• pp.359-363
• /
• 2015

Objective : Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complication is a major obstacle in the management of hydrocephalus. To study the differences of VP shunt complications between children and adults, we analyzed shunt revision surgery performed at our hospital during the past 10 years. Methods : Patients who had undergone shunt revision surgery from January 2001 to December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively by chart review about age distribution, etiology of hydrocephalus, and causes of revision. Patients were grouped into below and above 20 years old. Results : Among 528 cases of VP shunt surgery performed in our hospital over 10 years, 146 (27.7%) were revision surgery. Infection and obstruction were the most common causes of revision. Fifty-one patients were operated on within 1 month after original VP shunt surgery. Thirty-six of 46 infection cases were operated before 6 months after the initial VP shunt. Incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients compared to older. Two of 8 fractured catheters in the younger group were due to calcification and degradation of shunt catheters with fibrous adhesion to surrounding tissue. Conclusion : The complications of VP shunts were different between children and adults. The incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients. Degradation of shunt catheter associated with surrounding tissue calcification could be one of the reasons of the difference in facture rates.