Disconnection as a cause of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction in multicomponent shunt systems.
The cause of malfunction in 275 consecutive ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt revisions over an 8-year period were retrospectively analyzed. In all cases the shunt revised was a multicomponent (Holter) VP shunt. Disconnections in the system accounted for 41 (15%) of the malfunctions. The more distal the connection was from the ventricle, the higher the likelihood of disconnection. Furthermore, occipitally placed shunts had a significantly higher tendency to dislocate than frontally placed shunts.
Aldrich
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Division of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.
Harmann
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D010537:Peritoneum; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation