Laparoscopic surgery in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
OBJECTIVE
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts may require laparoscopic surgery. The authors aimed to determine if this group of children are at greater risk for complications or technical problems.


METHODS
Children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1995 and 1998 were reviewed. In addition, the subset of children undergoing laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with the group of children without shunts who- had the same operation during the same period.


RESULTS
Ten children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts underwent laparoscopic surgery. Three had complications, none of which were caused by the shunt. None had any evidence of shunt dysfunction related to the laparoscopic procedure. The 6 children with shunts who underwent laparoscopic fundoplication were compared with 17 similar children without shunts who underwent the same operation during the same period. There were no differences between the groups with respect to operating time, conversion to an open approach, or complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic surgery can be performed safely and effectively in children with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
D H
DH
Walker
J C
JC
Langer
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects*