Management of maternal hydrocephalus requires replacement of ventriculoperitoneal shunt with ventriculoatrial shunt: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Women with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt require special care during pregnancy, although they develop few complications related to hydrocephalus.


METHODS
We recently encountered a pregnant patient with hydrocephalus, which was caused by VP shunt malfunction induced by increased intra-abdominal pressure associated with pregnancy. She was treated by replacement of the VP shunt with a ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt. After treatment, she achieved vaginal delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
We recommend VA shunt implantation as a treatment option for the management of VP shunt malfunction during pregnancy. We further propose that patients in whom the VP shunt is replaced with a VA shunt can achieve spontaneous vaginal delivery.
Murakami
Masahiro
M
Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Center for Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, Kagawa National Children's Hospital, Zentsuji, Kagawa, Japan. murakami@kagawasyoni.hosp.go.jp
Morine
Mikio
M
Iwasa
Takeshi
T
Takahashi
Yohei
Y
Miyamoto
Takeshi
T
Hon
Pooh Kyong
PK
Nakagawa
Yoshinobu
Y
D000328:Adult; D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000379:methods; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D047929:Term Birth; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects*