Complete migration of peritoneal shunt tubing to the scalp.
The entire length of distal tubing from a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was found to have migrated into the subgaleal space, and resulted in a shunt obstruction. Upward migration of distal shunt catheters has rarely been reported, but probably involves patient motion that creates a "windlass" effect. Cephaled migration requires a potential space (subgaleal or ventricular) and no resistance to movement of the tubing. This complication can be prevented by securing the shunt near the site of motion.
Department of Neurosurgery, Bethesda Naval Hospital, Maryland.
R C
RC
Heim
B A
BA
Kaufman
T S
TS
Park
D002675:Child, Preschool; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005548:Foreign-Body Migration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012535:Scalp / Q000601:surgery; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000601:surgery*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000295:instrumentation*