Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and abdominal complications

Key words: Hydrocephalus, Ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, Abdominal complication, External ventricular drainage, Antibiotherapy

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting remains the most widely used neurosurgical procedure for the management of hydrocephalus. Intraabdominal complications after its insertion are frequently located near the peritoneal end of the shunt catheter, causing shunt dysfunction and intracranial hypertesion.
The most common complications of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt are infections, malfunction due to blockage, disconnection and migration, which occur with symptoms such as fever, lethargy, irritability, and vomiting. Signs of a possible complication should be early identified because it can cause permanent brain damage. Initial treatment always includes immediate shunt removal and externalized ventricular drainage; if infection is found intravenous antibiotics are mandatory.