Percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: case series and review.
BACKGROUND
There are few data on the safety of PEG in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.


METHODS
Medical records for patients seen in 3 tertiary care, university-affiliated hospitals between January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1999, were reviewed.


METHODS
Six patients underwent PEG after ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement during the study period. There was no immediate complication. One patient died of pneumonia 2 months after PEG insertion. There was no instance of shunt malfunction, intra-abdominal complication, or wound infection in the study group. There was no long-term complication, with either the ventriculoperitoneal shunt or the PEG.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the number of cases was small, PEG placement with prophylactic administration of antibiotics appears to be safe in patients with a pre-existing ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Baird
Robert
R
Department of General Surgery, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada.
Salasidis
Robert
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt