A scientific journal’s greatest responsibility is to ensure that all contributions accepted for publications are rigorously but fairly reviewed. The Editor-in-Chief and Archives of Pediatric Neurosurgery gratefully acknowledge the qualified and regular collaboration of renowned medical doctors and scientists who kindly devoted their time to constructively review the submitted articles.  Their expertise and invaluable assistance contributed to maintain a high scientific standard for APN. We are thus indebted to the Editorial Board members and the following experts who reviewed papers and completed the peer-reviewing process within 2022.

A scientific journal’s greatest responsibility is to ensure that all contributions accepted for publications are rigorously but fairly reviewed. The Editor-in-Chief and Archives of Pediatric Neurosurgery gratefully acknowledge the qualified and regular collaboration of renowned medical doctors and scientists who kindly devoted their time to constructively review the submitted articles. Their expertise and invaluable assistance contributed to maintain a high scientific standard for APN. We are thus indebted to the Editorial Board members and the following experts who reviewed papers and completed the peer-reviewing process within 2020.

Introduction: Hydrocephalus is the pathology most frequently addressed and studied in pediatric neurosurgery. Over 15,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Although it is the most common procedure performed by pediatric neurosurgeons, the shunt implant for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) also presents the highest rate of failure and replenishment. The last 50 years have been marked by important advances in quality of these implants. However , little has changed regarding the prevalence of these failures. We will comment here the main mechanical failures of the shunt: disconnection, migration, fracture and scraping of the catheter, hollow visceral perforation and distal catheter knot. Methods: Literature review about the main causes of mechanical failure in shunts Conclusion: Shunt dysfunction is still very common, despite technological advances in the treatment of hydrocephalus. Mechanical causes of shunt dysfunction correspond to about 30% of the reasons for changing or overhauling valves. Most of these occur due to surgical problems. Therefore, safe measures reduces these events their clinical features.