J Korean Neurosurg Soc.  2015 May;57(5):359-363. 10.3340/jkns.2015.57.5.359.

A Retrospective Analysis of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Revision Cases of a Single Institute

• Park MK
• Kim M
• Park KS
• Park SH
• Hwang JH
• Hwang SK

• KMID: 1881733
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2015.57.5.359

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Hydrocephalus; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt; Complication; Shunt fracture; Calcification

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Distribution
Catheters
Child
Humans
Hydrocephalus
Incidence
Retrospective Studies*
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt*

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