title: Outcome of ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation for treatment of congenital internal hydrocephalus in dogs and cats: 36 cases (2001-2009).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine outcome data for cats and dogs with congenital internal hydrocephalus following treatment via ventriculoperitoneal shunting to determine treatment-associated changes in neurologic signs, the nature and incidence of postoperative complications, and survival time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective multicenter case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  30 dogs and 6 cats with congenital internal hydrocephalus (confirmed via CT or MRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records for dogs and cats with internal hydrocephalus that underwent unilateral ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation from 2001 through 2009 were evaluated. Data collected included the nature and incidence of postoperative complications, change in clinical signs following surgery, and survival time. To compare pre- and postoperative signs, 2-way frequency tables were analyzed with a 1-sided exact McNemar test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  8 of 36 (22%) animals developed postoperative complications, including shunt malfunction, shunt infection, and seizure events. Three dogs underwent shunt revision surgery. Thirteen (36%) animals died as a result of hydrocephalus-related complications or were euthanized. Following shunt implantation, clinical signs resolved in 7 dogs and 2 cats; overall, 26 (72%) animals had an improvement of clinical signs. After 18 months, 20 animals were alive, and the longest follow-up period was 9.5 years. Most deaths and complications occurred in the first 3 months after shunt placement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation is a viable option for treatment of dogs or cats with congenital hydrocephalus. Because complications are most likely to develop in the first 3 months after surgery, repeated neurologic and imaging evaluations are warranted during this period.
authors.affiliation: Small Animal Clinic, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Justus Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany. miriam.biel@web.de
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Forterre
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jurina
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lautersack
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Failing
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017287:Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / Q000662:veterinary*