title: E. coli meningitis as an indicator of intestinal perforation by V-P shunt tube.
abstract: Shunting systems widely used for the treatment of hydrocephalus have been connected with certain risks and potential complications which stem from implanting a non-biological material into the human body. Several complications have been reported to arise from the insertion of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts. This short report highlights the observation that when anaerobic meningitis together with gram negative E. Coli in the CSF of a V-P shunted patient is found, bowel perforation should be assumed. Four cases developed such a complication among 643 hydrocephalic patients of various etiology over a period of ten years.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Department, College of Medicine & Medical Sciences, King Faisal University/King Fahd University Hospital, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation