Pediatric gravitational shunts: initial results from a prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The authors' goal in this paper was to evaluate prospectively the efficacy and safety of a new pediatric gravitational shunt to determine whether it warrants inclusion in a randomized, controlled trial with other shunts.


METHODS
A total of 55 children between the ages of 0 and 6 years (median age 0.5 years, average age 4+/-6 years) underwent primary shunt implantation; all received the Miethke Paedi-GAV. The follow-up period ranged between 12 and 77 months (mean 47+/-21 months). The primary end point of the study was the first shunt failure necessitating revision. The 1- and 2-year shunt survival rates were 75 and 68%, respectively. The average failure-free shunt survival duration was 1423 +/- 641 days. Based on imaging findings, no slitlike ventricles occurred. The complication rate was 33%, and the median time to shunt failure was 45 days. Underdrainage occurred in one child (1.8%) and overdrainage in two children (3.6%).


CONCLUSIONS
These preliminary results prove the Miethke Paedi-GAV to be a safe and effective pediatric shunt worthy of inclusion in a randomized comparison with other shunts in the pediatric population.
Eymann
Regina
R
Department of Neurosurgery, Saarland University Medical School, Saarland, Germany. ReginaEymann@web.de
Steudel
Wolf-Ingo
WI
Kiefer
Michael
M
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006112:Gravitation; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome