Complications of subduroperitoneal shunting.
OBJECTIVE
Subduroperitoneal (SP) shunts have been widely used in the management of pediatric subdural fluid collections.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the complications of SP shunting in 73 boys and 24 girls, who ranged in age from 1 to 180 months (median 7 months). Subdural fluid collection was bilateral in 75 and unilateral in 22 patients. The most common complication was shunt obstruction (13 patients). Shunt migration was seen in 8 patients. Migration occurred only with unishunts without a reservoir and with peritoneal catheters. However, the shunts with a reservoir or flushing valve led to skin necrosis in 4 patients (P=0.003). Unilateral drainage though bilateral collections were present, infection, bowel perforation, and ileus occurred in 5, 4, 1 and 1 patients respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
These SP shunt complications, some of which are avoidable, should be kept in mind.
Ersahin
Y
Y
Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey.
Tabur
E
E
Kocaman
S
S
Mutluer
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020200:Hematoma, Subdural, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013353:Subdural Effusion / Q000601:surgery*; D013355:Subdural Space; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt