Ventriculocholecysto shunt: a solution to recurrent shunt complications in comorbid post-tubercular hydrocephalus with tubercular adhesive peritonitis.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculosis is still a killer disease and a nightmare in developing countries. Post-tubercular hydrocephalus remains one of the most severe complications, with many diversion procedure methods. How common is the occurrence of co-morbid post tubercular hydrocephalus with tubercular peritonitis is still not known. This is a frustrating cause of repeated shunt complications and revisions.


METHODS
We discuss the management of two cases that were the cause of nearly 50 % of our shunt revisions due to the comorbidities of post-tubercular hydrocephalus and tubercular adhesive peritonitis. We performed the ventriculocholecysto (VC) shunt. This procedure diverts CSF from the ventricular system to the gall bladder.


RESULTS
The two children are disease free and did not require a revision in the 3.4-year follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
The VC shunt is a simple procedure. It improved the quality of life of these children who otherwise would have had a very morbid period during shunt revisions and the active disease. These children did not require further revisions and can grow normally.
Department of Neurosurgery, Nazareth Hospital and Woodland Hospital, Shillong, Meghalaya, India. bernitl@yahoo.com
Bernard Trench
BT
Lyngdoh
Mohammad Shamsul
MS
Islam
D002557:Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000379:methods*