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- Title
Ventriculopleural shunt: thoracoscopic placement of the distal catheter.
- Authors
Kurschel, S.; Eder, H. G.; Schleef, J.
- Abstract
Ventriculopleural shunting is usually reserved for patients with limited options for shunt revisions. We report the case of a 16-year-old boy with posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus who required numerous shunt procedures. At the age of 6 years, a ventriculopleural shunt was inserted by an intercostal thoracotomy, and 4 years later replacement of the distal catheter was necessary. Recently, he presented again with a shunt malfunction due to migration of the pleural catheter. We describe a technique for performing the placement of the distal catheter under direct thoracoscopic vision by a peel-off needle into the unscarred thoracic cavity despite two previous pleural procedures. The postoperative course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic assistance in ventriculopleural shunt placement appears to be a safe and effective technique, offering several advantages over the open procedure: it is less invasive, allows a precise positioning of the thoracic catheter under visual control, and confirms appropriate function.
- Subjects
THORACIC surgery; THORACIC surgeons; CATHETERS; DRUG delivery devices; SURGERY; MEDICINE
- Publication
Surgical Endoscopy & Other Interventional Techniques, 2003, Vol 17, Issue 11, p1850
- ISSN
1866-6817
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00464-003-4225-x