title: Spontaneous externalization of peritoneal catheter through the abdominal wall in a patient with hydrocephalus: a case report.
abstract: Since 1905, the abdominal cavity has been used for absorption of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with hydrocephalus. We report a case of a 33-year-old female, in which a spontaneous extrusion of the peritoneal catheter of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt through the intact abdominal wall occurred. We suggest that the rather hard peritoneal catheter eroded the abdominal wall, caused local inflammation, and then extruded through the skin. Additionally, the intestinal peristaltic movements, the omental activity and the intraabdominal pressure could play an adjuvant part, pressing direct the foreign body from the peritoneal cavity toward the skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School Dragana, GR-68100, Alexandroupolis Greece. mpirmpil@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Theodossios
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Birbilis
authors.forename: Efthimia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Theodoropoulou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matis