scholarly journals The Preventable Shunt Revision Rate: a potential quality metric for pediatric shunt surgery

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett T. Venable ◽  
Nicholas B. Rossi ◽  
G. Morgan Jones ◽  
Nickalus R. Khan ◽  
Zachary S. Smalley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Revision Surgery ◽  
Revision Rate ◽  
Catheter Placement ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Distal Catheter ◽  
Quality Metric

OBJECTIVE Shunt surgery consumes a large amount of pediatric neurosurgical health care resources. Although many studies have sought to identify risk factors for shunt failure, there is no consensus within the literature on variables that are predictive or protective. In this era of “quality outcome measures,” some authors have proposed various metrics to assess quality outcomes for shunt surgery. In this paper, the Preventable Shunt Revision Rate (PSRR) is proposed as a novel quality metric. METHODS An institutional shunt database was queried to identify all shunt surgeries performed from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2014, at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Patients' records were reviewed for 90 days following each “index” shunt surgery to identify those patients who required a return to the operating room. Clinical, demographic, and radiological factors were reviewed for each index operation, and each failure was analyzed for potentially preventable causes. RESULTS During the study period, there were 927 de novo or revision shunt operations in 525 patients. A return to the operating room occurred 202 times within 90 days of shunt surgery in 927 index surgeries (21.8%). In 67 cases (33% of failures), the revision surgery was due to potentially preventable causes, defined as inaccurate proximal or distal catheter placement, infection, or inadequately secured or assembled shunt apparatus. Comparing cases in which failure was due to preventable causes and those in which it was due to nonpreventable causes showed that in cases in which failure was due to preventable causes, the patients were significantly younger (median 3.1 vs 6.7 years, p = 0.01) and the failure was more likely to occur within 30 days of the index surgery (80.6% vs 64.4% of cases, p = 0.02). The most common causes of preventable shunt failure were inaccurate proximal catheter placement (33 [49.3%] of 67 cases) and infection (28 [41.8%] of 67 cases). No variables were found to be predictive of preventable shunt failure with multivariate logistic regression. CONCLUSIONS With economic and governmental pressures to identify and implement “quality measures” for shunt surgery, pediatric neurosurgeons and hospital administrators must be careful to avoid linking all shunt revisions with “poor” or less-than-optimal quality care. To date, many of the purported risk factors for shunt failure and causes of shunt revision surgery are beyond the influence and control of the surgeon. We propose the PSRR as a specific, meaningful, measurable, and—hopefully—modifiable quality metric for shunt surgery in children.

scholarly journals Predicting shunt failure in children: should the global shunt revision rate be a quality measure?

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas B. Rossi ◽  
Nickalus R. Khan ◽  
Tamekia L. Jones ◽  
Jacob Lepard ◽  
Joseph H. McAbee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Revision Rate ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Shunt System ◽  
Pediatric Hydrocephalus ◽  
Model Selection Approach ◽  
Negative Findings

OBJECT Ventricular shunts for pediatric hydrocephalus continue to be plagued with high failure rates. Reported risk factors for shunt failure are inconsistent and controversial. The raw or global shunt revision rate has been the foundation of several proposed quality metrics. The authors undertook this study to determine risk factors for shunt revision within their own patient population. METHODS In this single-center retrospective cohort study, a database was created of all ventricular shunt operations performed at the authors’ institution from January 1, 2010, through December 2013. For each index shunt surgery, demographic, clinical, and procedural variables were assembled. An “index surgery” was defined as implantation of a new shunt or the revision or augmentation of an existing shunt system. Bivariate analyses were first performed to evaluate individual effects of each independent variable on shunt failure at 90 days and at 180 days. A final multivariate model was chosen for each outcome by using a backward model selection approach. RESULTS There were 466 patients in the study accounting for 739 unique (“index”) operations, for an average of 1.59 procedures per patient. The median age for the cohort at the time of the first shunt surgery was 5 years (range 0–35.7 years), with 53.9% males. The 90- and 180-day shunt failure rates were 24.1% and 29.9%, respectively. The authors found no variable—demographic, clinical, or procedural—that predicted shunt failure within 90 or 180 days. CONCLUSIONS In this study, none of the risk factors that were examined were statistically significant in determining shunt failure within 90 or 180 days. Given the negative findings and the fact that all other risk factors for shunt failure that have been proposed in the literature thus far are beyond the control of the surgeon (i.e., nonmodifiable), the use of an institution’s or individual’s global shunt revision rate remains questionable and needs further evaluation before being accepted as a quality metric.

scholarly journals P.207 Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: A Shunt Outcomes Quality Improvement (ShOut-QI) Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (s3) ◽  
pp. S79-S79
Author(s):  
MG Hamilton ◽  
C Ball ◽  
R Holubkov ◽  
G Urbaneja ◽  
A Isaacs
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Catheter Placement ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Distal Catheter ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Catheter Failure ◽  
Placement Accuracy

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failures in adult patients are common and subject patients to multiple surgeries and a decreased quality of life. A prospective cohort Shunt Outcomes Quality Improvement (ShOut-QI) initiative was implemented to reduce shunt failure incidence through neuronavigation-assisted proximal catheter insertion and laparoscopy-guided distal catheter anchoring over the liver dome to drain CSF away from the omentum. Methods: “Pre-ShOut” and “Post-ShOut” groups of patients included those with and without neuronavigation/laparoscopy, respectively for insertion of a new VP shunt. The primary outcome was shunt failure which was defined as any return to surgery for shunt revision as determined with a standardized clinical and radiology follow-up protocol. Results: 244 patients (97 Pre-ShOut, 147 Post-ShOut), mean age 73 years, were enrolled over a 7-year interval and observed for a mean duration of 4 years after shunt insertion. Neuronavigation improved proximal catheter placement accuracy by 20% (p<.001), and shunt failure occurred in 57% vs 23% in the Pre-ShOut and Post-ShOut groups, respectively (p=.008), representing a 53% relative risk reduction in the incidence of shunt failure. Conclusions: Adult shunt failure incidence may be significantly reduced by improving the accuracy of proximal catheter placement with neuronavigation and reducing the risk of distal catheter failure with laparoscopic-guided placement.

scholarly journals Effect of electromagnetic-navigated shunt placement on failure rates: a prospective multicenter study

2010 ◽  
Vol 113 (6) ◽  
pp. 1273-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Hayhurst ◽  
Tjemme Beems ◽  
Michael D. Jenkinson ◽  
Patricia Byrne ◽  
Simon Clark ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Revision Rate ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Standard Group ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Anatomical Landmarks ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Catheter Position ◽  
Optimal Position ◽  
Shunt Placement

Object As many as 40% of shunts fail in the first year, mainly due to proximal obstruction. The role of catheter position on failure rates has not been clearly demonstrated. The authors conducted a prospective cohort study of navigated shunt placement compared with standard blind shunt placement at 3 European centers to assess the effect on shunt failure rates. Methods All adult and pediatric patients undergoing de novo ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement were included (patients with slit ventricles were excluded). The first cohort underwent standard shunt placement using anatomical landmarks. All centers subsequently adopted electromagnetic (EM) navigation for routine shunt placements, forming the second cohort. Catheter position was graded on postoperative CT in both groups using a 3-point scale developed for this study: (1) optimal position free-floating in CSF; (2) touching choroid or ventricular wall; or (3) intraparenchymal. Episodes and type of shunt revision were recorded. Early shunt failure was defined as that occurring within 30 days of surgery. Patients with shunts were followed-up for 12 months in the standard group, for a median of 6 months in the EM-navigated group, or until shunt failure. Results A total of 75 patients were included in the study, 41 with standard shunts and 34 with EM-navigated shunts. Seventy-four percent of navigated shunts were Grade 1 compared with 37% of the standard shunts (p = 0.001, chi-square test). There were no Grade 3 placements in the navigated group, but 8 in the standard group, and 75% of these failed. Early shunt failure occurred in 9 patients in the standard group and in 2 in the navigated group, reducing the early revision rate from 22 to 5.9% (p = 0.048, Fisher exact test). Early shunt failures were due to proximal obstruction in 78% of standard shunts (7 of 9) and in 50% of EM-navigated shunts (1 of 2). Conclusions Noninvasive EM image guidance in shunt surgery reduces poor shunt placement, resulting in a significant decrease in the early shunt revision rate.

Image Guidance for Ventricular Shunt Surgery: An Analysis of Hospital Charges

Neurosurgery ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. E765-E770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia Ajmera ◽  
Mustafa Motiwala ◽  
Nickalus R Khan ◽  
Lydia J Smith ◽  
Kim Giles ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Revision Surgery ◽  
Image Guidance ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Hospital Charges ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Postanesthesia Care Unit ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Clinical Scenarios ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Cost

Abstract BACKGROUND Image guidance for shunt surgery results in more accurate proximal catheter placement. However, reduction in shunt failure remains unclear in the literature. There have been no prior studies evaluating the cost effectiveness of neuronavigation for shunt surgery. OBJECTIVE To perform a cost analysis using available hospital charges of hypothetical shunt surgery performed with/without electromagnetic neuronavigation (EMN). METHODS Hospital charges were collected for physician fees, radiology, operating room (OR) time and supplies, postanesthesia care unit, hospitalization days, laboratory, and medications. Index shunt surgery charges (de novo or revision) were totaled and the difference calculated. This difference was compared with hospital charges for shunt revision surgery performed under 2 clinical scenarios: (1) same hospital stay as the index surgery; and (2) readmission through the emergency department. RESULTS Costs for freehand de novo and revision shunt surgery were $23 946.22 and $23 359.22, respectively. For stealth-guided de novo and revision surgery, the costs were $33 646.94 and $33 059.94, a difference of $9700.72. The largest charge increase was due to additional OR time (34 min; $4794), followed by disposable EMN equipment ($2672). Total effective charges to revise the shunt for scenarios 1 and 2 were $34 622.94 and $35 934.94, respectively. The cost ratios between the total revision charges for both scenarios and the difference in freehand vs EMN-assisted shunt surgery ($9700.72) were 3.57 and 3.70, respectively. CONCLUSION From an economic standpoint and within the limitations of our models, the number needed to prevent must be 4 or less for the use of neuronavigation to be considered cost effective.

Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Surgery Outcome in Adult Transition Patients With Pediatric-Onset Hydrocephalus

Neurosurgery ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Kesava Reddy ◽  
Papireddy Bollam ◽  
Gloria Caldito ◽  
Bharat Guthikonda ◽  
Anil Nanda
Keyword(s):  
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Adult Transition ◽  
Shunt Survival ◽  
Pediatric Onset

Abstract BACKGROUND: Ventriculoperitoneal shunting remains the most widely used neurosurgical procedure for the management of hydrocephalus, albeit with many complications. OBJECTIVE: To review and assess the long-term clinical outcome of ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in adult transition patients with pediatric-onset hydrocephalus. METHODS: Patients 17 years or older who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement for hydrocephalus during their pediatric years (younger than 17 years) were included. Medical charts, operative reports, imaging studies, and clinical follow- up evaluations were reviewed and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: A total of 105 adult patients with pediatric-onset hydrocephalus were included. The median age of the patients was 25.9 years. The median age at the time of the initial ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement was 1.0 year. The median follow-up time for all patients was 17.7 years. The incidence of shunt failure at 6 months was 15.2%, and the overall incidence of shunt failure was 82.9%. Single shunt revision occurred in 26.7% of the patients, and 56.2% had multiple shunt revisions. The cause of hydrocephalus was significantly associated with shunt survival for patients who had shunt failure before the age of 17 years. Being pediatric at first shunt revision, infection, proximal shunt complication, and other causes were independently associated with multiple shunt failures. CONCLUSION: The findings of this retrospective study show that the long-term ventriculoperitoneal shunt survival remains low in adult transition patients with pediatric-onset hydrocephalus.

scholarly journals Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: a shunt outcomes quality improvement study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Albert M. Isaacs ◽  
Chad G. Ball ◽  
Nicholas Sader ◽  
Sandeep Muram ◽  
David Ben-Israel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Distal Catheter ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Catheter Failure ◽  
Prevention Protocol

OBJECTIVE Patient outcomes of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery, the mainstay treatment for hydrocephalus in adults, are poor because of high shunt failure rates. The use of neuronavigation or laparoscopy can reduce the risks of proximal or distal shunt catheter failure, respectively, but has less independent effect on overall shunt failures. No adult studies to date have combined both approaches in the setting of a shunt infection prevention protocol to reduce shunt failure. The goal of this study was to determine whether combining neuronavigation and laparoscopy with a shunt infection prevention strategy would reduce the incidence of shunt failures in adult hydrocephalic patients. METHODS Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) undergoing VP shunt surgery at a tertiary care institution prior to (pre–Shunt Outcomes [ShOut]) and after (post-ShOut) the start of a prospective continuous quality improvement (QI) study were compared. Pre-ShOut patients had their proximal and distal catheters placed under conventional freehand approaches. Post-ShOut patients had their shunts inserted with neuronavigational and laparoscopy assistance in placing the distal catheter in the perihepatic space (falciform technique). A shunt infection reduction protocol had been instituted 1.5 years prior to the start of the QI initiative. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of shunt failure (including infection) confirmed by standardized criteria indicating shunt revision surgery. RESULTS There were 244 (115 pre-ShOut and 129 post-ShOut) patients observed over 7 years. With a background of shunt infection prophylaxis, combined neuronavigation and laparoscopy was associated with a reduction in overall shunt failure rates from 37% to 14%, 45% to 22%, and 51% to 29% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively (HR 0.44, p < 0.001). Shunt infection rates decreased from 8% in the pre-ShOut group to 0% in the post-ShOut group. There were no proximal catheter failures in the post-ShOut group. The 2-year rates of distal catheter failure were 42% versus 20% in the pre- and post-ShOut groups, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Introducing a shunt infection prevention protocol, placing the proximal catheter under neuronavigation, and placing the peritoneal catheter in the perihepatic space by using the falciform technique led to decreased rates of infection, distal shunt failure, and overall shunt failure.

Thirty-day outcomes of cerebrospinal fluid shunt surgery: data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatrics

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph H. Piatt
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Risk Adjustment ◽  
Statistical Models ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Surgical Quality

Object Cerebrospinal fluid shunts are the mainstay of the treatment of hydrocephalus. In past studies, outcomes of shunt surgery have been analyzed based on follow-up of 1 year or longer. The goal of the current study is to characterize 30-day shunt outcomes, to identify clinical risk factors for shunt infection and failure, and to develop statistical models that might be used for risk stratification. Methods Data for 2012 were obtained from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatrics (NSQIP-P) of the American College of Surgeons. Files with index surgical procedures for insertion or revision of a CSF shunt composed the study set. Returns to the operating room within 30 days for shunt infection and for shunt failure without infection were the study end points. Associations with a large number of potential clinical risk factors were analyzed on a univariate basis. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results There were 1790 index surgical procedures analyzed. The overall rates of shunt infection and shunt failure without infection were 2.0% and 11.5%, respectively. Male sex, steroid use in the preceding 30 days, and nutritional support at the time of surgery were risk factors for shunt infection. Cardiac disease was a risk factor for shunt failure without infection, and initial shunt insertion, admission during the second quarter, and neuromuscular disease appeared to be protective. There was a weak association of increasing age with shunt failure without infection. Models based on these factors accounted for no more than 6% of observed variance. Construction of stable statistical models with internal validity for risk adjustment proved impossible. Conclusions The precision of the NSQIP-P dataset has allowed identification of risk factors for shunt infection and for shunt failure without infection that have not been documented previously. Thirty-day shunt outcomes may be useful quality metrics, possibly even without risk adjustment. Whether important variation in 30-day outcomes exists among institutions or among neurosurgeons is yet unknown.

scholarly journals Risk factors for shunt malfunction in pediatric hydrocephalus: a multicenter prospective cohort study

2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Riva-Cambrin ◽  
John R. W. Kestle ◽  
Richard Holubkov ◽  
Jerry Butler ◽  
Abhaya V. Kulkarni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Csf Shunt ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Surgeon Experience ◽  
Shunt Survival ◽  
Cardiac Comorbidity

OBJECT The rate of CSF shunt failure remains unacceptably high. The Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) conducted a comprehensive prospective observational study of hydrocephalus management, the aim of which was to isolate specific risk factors for shunt failure. METHODS The study followed all first-time shunt insertions in children younger than 19 years at 6 HCRN centers. The HCRN Investigator Committee selected, a priori, 21 variables to be examined, including clinical, radiographic, and shunt design variables. Shunt failure was defined as shunt revision, subsequent endoscopic third ventriculostomy, or shunt infection. Important a priori–defined risk factors as well as those significant in univariate analyses were then tested for independence using multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling. RESULTS A total of 1036 children underwent initial CSF shunt placement between April 2008 and December 2011. Of these, 344 patients experienced shunt failure, including 265 malfunctions and 79 infections. The mean and median length of follow-up for the entire cohort was 400 days and 264 days, respectively. The Cox model found that age younger than 6 months at first shunt placement (HR 1.6 [95% CI 1.1–2.1]), a cardiac comorbidity (HR 1.4 [95% CI 1.0–2.1]), and endoscopic placement (HR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2–2.9]) were independently associated with reduced shunt survival. The following had no independent associations with shunt survival: etiology, payer, center, valve design, valve programmability, the use of ultrasound or stereotactic guidance, and surgeon experience and volume. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest prospective study reported on children with CSF shunts for hydrocephalus. It confirms that a young age and the use of the endoscope are risk factors for first shunt failure and that valve type has no impact. A new risk factor—an existing cardiac comorbidity—was also associated with shunt failure.

Laparoscopic versus open insertion of the peritoneal catheter in ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement: review of 810 consecutive cases

2011 ◽  
Vol 115 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Naftel ◽  
Joshua L. Argo ◽  
Chevis N. Shannon ◽  
Tracy H. Taylor ◽  
R. Shane Tubbs ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Loss ◽  
Catheter Insertion ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Distal Catheter ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Asa Score ◽  
Distal Obstruction ◽  
Shunt Obstruction

Object Traditional ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery involves insertion of the distal catheter by minilaparotomy. However, minilaparotomy may be a significant source of morbidity during shunt surgery. Laparoscopic insertion of the distal catheter is an alternative technique that may simplify and improve the safety of shunt surgery. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of hospital records of all patients undergoing new VP shunt insertion at a tertiary care center between 2004 and 2009. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients undergoing open or laparoscopic insertion of the distal catheter. Independent variables in the analysis included age, sex, race, body mass index, surgical technique, previous VP shunt placement, previous abdominal procedures, American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) score, and indication for shunt placement. Dependent variables included the occurrence of shunt failure, cause of shunt failure, complications, length of stay (LOS), LOS after shunt placement, estimated blood loss, and operative time. Results The authors identified 810 patients who met the inclusion criteria; open or laparoscopic distal catheter insertion was performed in 335 and 475 patients, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding age, race, ASA score, or indication for shunt placement. The most common indication was hydrocephalus due to subarachnoid hemorrhage, followed by tumor-associated hydrocephalus, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), and hydrocephalus due to trauma. The incidence of shunt failure was not statistically different between cohorts, occurring in 20.0% of laparoscopic and 20.9% of open catheter placement cases (p = 0.791). With analysis of causes of shunt failure, shunt obstruction occurred significantly more often in the open surgery cohort (p = 0.012). In patients with a known cause shunt obstruction, distal obstruction occurred in 35.7% of the open cohort obstructions and 4.8% of the laparoscopic cohort obstructions (p = 0.014). The relative risk of distal obstruction in open cases compared with laparoscopic cases was 7.50. Infections occurred in 8.2% of laparoscopic cases compared with 6.6% of open cases (p = 0.419). Within the NPH subgroup, the laparoscopically treated patients had significantly more overdrainage (p = 0.040), whereas those in the open cohort experienced significantly more shunt obstructions (p = 0.034). Laparoscopically treated patients had shorter operative times (p < 0.0005), inpatient LOS (p < 0.001), and inpatient LOS after VP shunt placement (p = 0.01) as well as less blood loss (p = 0.058). Conclusions To our knowledge this is the largest reported comparison of distal VP shunt catheter insertion techniques. Compared with minilaparotomy, the laparoscopic approach was associated with decreased time in the operating room and a decreased LOS. Moreover, laparoscopy was associated with fewer distal shunt obstructions. Laparoscopic shunt surgery is a viable alternative to traditional shunt surgery.

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