Delayed intrapleural migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Abstract

We report a case of delayed intrapleural migration of the peritoneal catheter of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. This is an unusual but life-threatening complication of peritoneal shunting for the treatment of hydrocephalus. A method of treatment and abbreviated review of shunt complications is included.

Subgaleal migration of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt

“…4-10 Abdominal complications, including bowel perforation leading to intracerebral sepsis, development of umbilical fistula secondary to migration of VP shunt, and perforation of the urinary bladder are also reported. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Migration of the abdominal catheter of a VP shunt into the scrotum has also been described. 21,22 Using a shunt valve system with a chamber that abolishes the movement of the shunt chamber through the subcutaneous soft tissues will reduce the likelihood of migration.…”

Migration and Coiling of Peritoneal Catheter into the Subgaleal Space: A Very Rare Complication of Subgaleoperitoneal Shunt

“…The most common complications of VP shunts are infection, obstruction, and mechanical failure due to fracture, disconnection, malposition, and kinking of catheter. However, unusual complications associated with VP shunts have been reported including CSF collection and cyst formation, bowel perforation, migration of the tube into pleural cavity, liver, heart, scrotum, anus, abdominal wall, vagina, uterus, and subcutaneous coiling of the peritoneal catheter2-4,6,8,10-12). Upward migration of the peritoneal catheter into the craniotomy flap or ventricle is extremely rare1,9).…”

Unusual complications of ventriculo peritoneal shunt surgery

“…[4] There is no ideal system for CSF diversion, and VP shunt surgery is one of the universally accepted procedures in the management of hydrocephalus. [4][5][6] Numerous complications are associated with VP shunt surgery, especially with abdominal end and they include infection, CSF loculation, and cyst formation, bowel perforation, [5] migration of the tube into pleural cavity, [7] liver, [8] heart, [9] and scrotum, [10] anus, [11] abdominal wall, [12] migration, and subcutaneous coiling of the peritoneal catheter, [13] vagina, [3] oral cavities, [14] etc. Most of these are single case reports and trans-vaginal migration is an unusual complication.…”