title: Ventriculopleural shunts for hydrocephalus: a useful alternative.
abstract: From 1969 to 1979, ventriculopleural shunts were inserted in 29 children with progressive hydrocephalus. A standard Pudenz pump with a Raimondi catheter was used for all but 1 child for whom a Holter valve was used. The shunt functioned adequately in 7, but in 18 it had to be changed as a result of symptomatic pleural effusion. From 1979 to 1982, a further series of 52 other patients received ventriculopleural shunts, and these cases have recently been reviewed. The apparatus used was a Portnoy ventricular catheter or a medium or high pressure Heyer Schulte pump with an antisiphon device and a Salmon distal catheter. Three patients developed a shunt infection. One died with a functioning shunt. Four catheters became blocked by adhesions, and in only 1 patient was a peritoneal shunt substituted as a result of symptomatic effusion.
authors.affiliation: Prince of Wales Children's Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Currie
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kwok
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*