title: [Acute abdominal complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunts].
abstract: A review of critical abdominal complications is made in 150 patients operated on for hydrocephalus in the surgical and neurosurgical services of the Hospital Infantil Legaria through the years 1975--1976. We found 3 colonic perforations (cecum, transverse and rectum), one abdominal perforation, one through the umbilicus, one in vagina, 1 case of plastic peritonitis and two with ascitis. In the majority of cases, such complications were satisfactorily solved; sometimes by extraction of the derivative systems, and some others by primary closure of the lesions. We only had one death. In a larger percentage, other complications were observed, being in order of frequency the following: distal catheter obstruction, proximal obstruction, infection and abdominal wall cysts. We analysed the association with spina bifida (meningocele o myelomeningocele), frequency related to age, sex, etiology and type of shunt. We reviewed the literature and suggest general measures tending to avoid such complications.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications
vernacular_title: Complicaciones abdominales graves de las derivaciones ventriculoperitoneales.