Brainstem tethering in Dandy-Walker syndrome: a complication of cystoperitoneal shunting. Case report.
Treatment of the Dandy-Walker syndrome has included placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt alone or in combination with a posterior fossa cystoperitoneal shunt. Complications in shunting are common and are usually related to malfunction or infection. The authors present a case in which the patient developed headaches and focal cranial nerve deficits following infection caused by a cystoperitoneal shunt. Magnetic resonance imaging showed tethering of the brainstem. A posterior fossa craniotomy with microsurgical untethering and cyst fenestration achieved two goals: improvement of the focal cranial nerve deficits and elimination of the cystoperitoneal shunt.
D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003388:Cranial Fossa, Posterior; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000503:physiopathology; D003616:Dandy-Walker Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt