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- Title
Removal of Ventricular Shunts.
- Authors
Al-Holou, Wajd N.; Sack, Jayson A.; Garton, Hugh J. L.; Muraszko, Karin M.; Maher, Cormac O.
- Abstract
Background: Although most patients with an implanted ventriculoperitoneal shunt device will require cerebrospinal fluid diversion over the course of their lifetime, there appears to be a small number of patients that are shunt independent and may benefit from shunt removal. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 661 patients with hydrocephalus treated over a 10-year period at a single institution. In 10 patients, a systematic shunt weaning protocol was attempted before removal of the cerebrospinal fluid shunt. Results: Ten patients underwent an attempt at shunt removal. Seven of these patients were successfully weaned and 3 were not. The indications to attempt shunt removal for the 7 patients that were successfully weaned were recurrent complications and infections requiring multiple shunt externalizations and revisions in 4 patients, asymptomatic shunt disconnection in 2 patients, and symptomatic overdrainage in 1 patient. None of the patients that were successfully weaned had a history of shunt failure resulting in ventriculomegaly. Two of the 3 patients who failed shunt weaning attempts had a history of shunt failure that resulted in ventriculomegaly. Conclusion: A small number of patients with shunted hydrocephalus may benefit from removal of their shunt. Copyright © 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel
- Subjects
HYDROCEPHALUS; CEREBROSPINAL fluid; SURGICAL anastomosis; SURGERY; CYSTS (Pathology)
- Publication
Pediatric Neurosurgery, 2010, Vol 46, Issue 3, p172
- ISSN
1016-2291
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1159/000321921