title: Bilateral pneumothorax during subdural-peritoneal shunting.
abstract: Pneumothorax is a very rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunting in children. We report a case of an iatrogenic bilateral tension pneumothorax during the placement of a subdural-peritoneal shunting. After the placement of peritoneal catheter, oxygen saturation of the patient quickly decreased, hypotension and bradycardia occurred. Intraoperative x-rays showed the pneumothorax. A thoracostomy tube was inserted and attached to an underwater seal. Vital signs improved in a short time period. The radiological improvement had been achieved in four days. Early diagnosis and prompt intervention are life-saving for this complication. To avoid this complication, the tip of the shunt tunneler should be always palpable during the placement of the peritoneal catheter, especially in children's shunt surgery.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solmaz
authors.forename: Ozkan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tehli
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Izci
mesh_terms: D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D057785:Catheters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013355:Subdural Space / Q000601:surgery*; D013907:Thoracostomy; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen