The role of shuntography in diagnosis of mechanic complications after implantation of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus: a retrospective clinical evaluation

Abstract

Background Mechanical obstruction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) during the first year after shunt implantation is a common complication and is widely described in the literature. In this paper, we evaluated the suitability of the shuntography for the diagnosis of mechanical complications of the VPS in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Methods We retrospectively identified 49 patients with pathologic shuntography over of a period of 20 years in our hospital. The percentage of procedure-associated complications was determined. Results Ninety-eight percent (n = 48) of the patients who underwent shuntography showed clinical and radiographic signs of underdrainage prior to examination. Shuntography revealed mechanical complications of the VP shunt in 37% (n = 18) as a cause of clinical deterioration and following revision operation. During shuntography, mechanical obstruction was discovered in 78% (n = 14) and disconnection of shunt components in 22% (n = 4). In the obstruction group, in 50% (n = 7) the closure was detected in the ventricular catheter, in 29% (n = 4) in the distal catheter of the VPS, and in 21% (n = 3) in both sides of the VPS. In the case of an inconspicuous shuntography (63%, n = 31), the patients received symptomatic therapy (32%, n = 10) or re-adjustment of the valve setting (68%, n = 21). Fifty-seven percent of the patients who underwent surgical treatment improved clinically by at least one point according to the Kiefer score. Conclusion Shuntography can produce valuable clinical information uncovering mechanic complications after implantation VPS in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Patients with mechanical complications of their VPS needed revision surgery and showed clinical benefit after treatment.

To Investigate the Effect of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) in the Diagnosis of Mild Craniocerebral Injury

“…Regions of interest (ROI) of 15 to 20 m m in the frontal white matter, temporal white matter, medial capsule, and corpus callosum were selected to measure the FA and ADC values of the selected areas. The measured values were also used for between-group and within-group comparisons Compared with the normal control group, NAA/Cr and NAA/CHO were decreased in the acute phase, while CHO/Cr was significantly increased ( Table 9 and Figure 3 [ 18 ]. In the acute phase, MRI did not differ from the normal control group.…”

“…Compared with the normal control group, NAA/Cr and NAA/CHO were decreased in the acute phase, while CHO/Cr was significantly increased ( Table 9 and Figure 3 [ 18 ]. In the acute phase, MRI did not differ from the normal control group.…”

Weight and Abdominal Pressure-Induced Shunt Trouble in Patients With Shunted Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus: A Comprehensive Study on Pressure Environment of Shunt System

“…However, if symptoms have not improved after 1 month, the physician should consider performing shuntography. If shuntography reveals abnormalities, i.e., occlusions, ruptures, disconnections, perform appropriate shunt revisions ( 21 ). However, such multidisciplinary cognitive and gait assessment, and diagnosis by CT and shuntography, are very tedious and consume a lot of medical resources.…”