title: Ventriculo-ureteral shunt insertion using percutaneous nephrostomy: a novel minimally invasive option in a patient with chronic hydrocephalus complicated by multiple distal ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures.
abstract: The management of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure is a common problem in neurosurgical practice. On occasion, extraperitoneal sites for CSF diversion are required when shunting to the peritoneal cavity has failed after multiple attempts. The authors report a novel minimally invasive procedure allowing cannulation of the ureter for the purpose of ventriculo-ureteral (VU) shunting. Sixteen years prior to presentation, this 46-year-old woman had contracted tuberculous meningitis and had chronic hydrocephalus, with multiple distal shunt failures in recent months. A percutaneous nephrostomy was used to pass the distal catheter based on intraoperative retrograde pyelography. Following successful placement of the VU shunt, the patient's hydrocephalus stabilized and she returned to her regular functional status. The only long-term complication noted within 36 months of follow-up was a transient episode of electrolyte disturbance and dehydration associated with a diarrheal illness that responded to adequate hydration and salt supplementation. By its minimally invasive nature, this approach offers a reasonable extraperitoneal alternative after multiple distal shunt catheter failures have occurred.
authors.affiliation: Departments of 1 Neurosurgery and.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.affiliation: Urology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, India.
authors.forename: Georgie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.affiliation: Urology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, India.
authors.forename: Sivasankaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nachimuthu
authors.affiliation: Urology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, Kochi, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeevan Vasudevan
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Kalavampara
keywords: VA = ventriculo-atrial; VP = ventriculoperitoneal; VP shunt malfunction; VU = ventriculo-ureteral; hydrocephalus; ventriculo-ureteral shunt; ventriculoperitoneal