scholarly journals Shunt-dependent hydrocephalus: management style among members of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons

2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Kraemer ◽  
Carolina Sandoval-Garcia ◽  
Taryn Bragg ◽  
Bermans J. Iskandar
Keyword(s):  
Choroid Plexus ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome ◽  
Csf Overdrainage ◽  
Slit Ventricle ◽  
Chronic Headaches ◽  
American Society

OBJECTIVEThe authors conducted a survey to evaluate differences in the understanding and management of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus among members of the American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons (ASPN).METHODSSurveys were sent to all 204 active ASPN members in September 2014. One hundred thirty responses were received, representing a 64% response rate. Respondents were asked 13 multiple-choice and free-response questions regarding 4 fundamental problems encountered in shunted-hydrocephalus management: shunt malfunction, chronic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) overdrainage, chronic headaches, and slit ventricle syndrome (SVS).RESULTSRespondents agreed that shunt malfunction occurs most often as the result of ventricular catheter obstruction. Despite contrary evidence in the literature, most respondents (66%) also believed that choroid plexus is the tissue most often found in obstructed proximal catheters. However, free-text responses revealed that the respondents’ understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of shunt obstruction was highly variable and included growth, migration, or adherence of choroid plexus, CSF debris, catheter position, inflammatory processes, and CSF overdrainage. Most respondents considered chronic CSF overdrainage to be a rare complication of shunting in their practice and reported wide variation in treatment protocols. Moreover, despite a lack of evidence in the literature, most respondents attributed chronic headaches in shunt patients to medical reasons (for example, migraines, tension). Accordingly, most respondents managed headaches with reassurance and/or referral to pain clinics. Lastly, there were variable opinions on the etiology of slit ventricle syndrome (SVS), which included early shunting, chronic overdrainage, and/or loss of brain compliance. Beyond shunt revision, respondents reported divergent SVS treatment preferences.CONCLUSIONSThe survey shows that there is wide variability in the understanding and management of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus and its complications. Such discrepancies appear to be derived partly from inconsistent familiarity with existing literature but especially from a paucity of high-quality publications.

Slit Ventricle Syndrome Presenting with Paroxysmal Hypersomnia in an Adult: Case Report

Neurosurgery ◽  
1988 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 594-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ender Korfali ◽  
Kaya Aksoy ◽  
Imran Safi
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Ventricular Enlargement ◽  
Adult Case ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome ◽  
Computed Tomographic ◽  
Lateral Ventricles ◽  
Slit Ventricle

Abstract The slit ventricle syndrome (SVS), defined as intermittent shunt malfunction without substantial ventricular enlargement, is usually observed in shunted children with small, slitlike ventricles. This syndrome has been attributed to recurrent obstruction of the ventricular catheter, which then causes an increase of intracranial pressure. Only rarely has the SVS been reported in adults. We describe a 29-year-old woman whose shunt malfunction presented with longlasting paroxysmal hypersomnia and was diagnosed with computed tomographic evidence of small lateral ventricles. This episodic hypersomnia presented every 2 to 3 weeks and each episode lasted 1 to 2 weeks. After revision of the ventricular catheter, her symptoms stopped and she remained well. (Neurosurgery 22:594-595, 1988)

scholarly journals Shunt malfunction and endoscopy

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1(January-April)) ◽  
pp. e792021
Author(s):  
Bermans Iskandar ◽  
Ricardo de Amoreira Gepp
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Ventricular Wall ◽  
Optimal Position ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome

Objective:   Hydrocephalus is the most common neurological disease in pediatric neurosurgery.(1) The CSF shunts remains as the most common treatment choice for nonobstructive hydrocephalus worldwide, but shunt complications still the most common neurosurgical problem, especially in pediatric neurosurgery. Endoscopy and shunts are the way to treat hydrocephalus. Especially third ventriculostomy is the most effective treatment to obstructive hydrocephalus but shunt still the most important way to treat.(2, 3) Shunt malfunction is frequent and after so many years this is very important problem to the patients. Ventricular problem due to obstruction is responsible up to 72% of shunt problems.(4) The Shunt Trial Study showed that the overall shunt survival was 62% at 1 year, 52% at 2 years, 46% at 3 years, 41% at 4 years. The survival curves for the 3 differents valves were similar to those from the original trial and did not show a survival advantage for any particular valve.(5, 6) We still don´t have one perfect solution to hydrocephalus and shunt malfunction. The major author described his experience in use endoscopy to evaluate and treat shunt malfunction and one new approach and way to evaluate this problem.   Results/Discussion: The literature review was performed, and we found 84 articles when we used the keywords. Endoscopy has been one important way to treat and solve shunt problems. In obstructive hydrocephalus third ventriculostomy is the best way to treat these patients.(1-3) The major author first described goals of endoscopy. First goal is safe catheter removal in surgical review, avoiding bleeding when removing catheter addressing all the adhesions on catheter. Second goal is put in optimal position the new catheter with pure endoscopy view or using neuronavigation systems that could help the endoscope system.(7, 8)   Optimal new catheter placement and optimal long-term catheter survival are especially important because most of the problems are due to ventricular problems. These good placements could avoid loculations and ventricular collapse with ependymal problems. Avoid new catheter malpositiitioning, you can use the endoscope to follow the old tract to insert the new catheter in one good position avoiding choroid plexus. Another situation is when you have small ventricles especially in slit ventricle syndrome.   The major author has been studied some causes to ventricular catheter obstruction. He noticed after some surgical reviews some ventricular ependymal inside catheter. Ventricular ependymal protrusions inside the catheter could cause intermittent occlusion.(8) Some endoscope views showed these protrusion and ependymal changes after intermittent increase and decrease of ventricular pressure. These protrusions correspond to catheter holes a secondary to suction. These protrusions could stuck in the holes in chronicle suction.(8) The major author reported one endoscopic evidence of overdrainage-related ventricular tissue protrusions that cause partial or complete obstruction of the ventricular catheter. He did a retrospective review in fifty patients underwent 83 endoscopic shunt revision procedures that revealed in-growth of ventricular wall tissue into the catheter tip orifices (ependymal bands), producing partial, complete, or intermittent shunt obstructions. Endoscopic ventricular explorations revealed ependymal bands at various stages of development, which appear to form secondarily to siphoning.(8) How to minimize this overshunting? Anti siphon systems could help and decrease proximal shunt malfunction in some complex patients. The other problem is ventricular bleeding. The use of endoscope has been important tool to remove ventricular catheters, when you could see the adhesions.(9) The use the endoscope could be particularly important to open loculations and cysts avoiding ventricular entrapment. Patients with ventricular cysts could need more than one catheter. The use of endoscopy to fenestrate the cyst could keep the patient with one catheter or without any shunt system.(10, 11)   Conclusion: Shunt malfunction has a lot of possible causes, but a probably ventricular catheter problem is the most common situation. Choose appropriate endoscope rigid or flexible for each case could help to treat and avoid some of ventricular. Endoscopy could be one important tool to help the surgeon to understand and solve this dangerous situation to the patient. Ventricular wall protrusions are a significant cause of proximal shunt obstruction, and they appear to be caused by siphoning of surrounding tissue into the ventricular catheter orifices.

Reexpansion of previously collapsed ventricles: the slit ventricle syndrome

1982 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 536-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Deborah Hyde-Rowan ◽  
Harold L. Rekate ◽  
Frank E. Nulsen
Keyword(s):  
Computerized Tomography ◽  
High Resistance ◽  
Ventricular System ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Low Resistance ◽  
Slit Ventricle ◽  
Fine Print

✓ This study reports six cases of hydrocephalic children with the “slit ventricle syndrome” who evidenced reexpansion of the ventricular system following insertion of high-resistance valves and anti-siphon devices. The authors contend that slit ventricles and subsequent ventricular coaptation can be prevented by elimination or early replacement of low-resistance valves, and maintenance of normal- or nearly normalsized ventricles by shunt revision with valve upgrade and/or an anti-siphon device, as judged by the appearance of the ventricles on computerized tomography.

Antimigraine Treatment for Slit Ventricle Syndrome

Neurosurgery ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 760-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
William G. Obana ◽  
Neil H. Raskin ◽  
Philip H. Cogen ◽  
Joyce A. Szymanski ◽  
Michael S.B. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Intracranial Hypotension ◽  
Ventricular Volume ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Elevated Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Increased Intracranial Pressure ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome ◽  
Shunt Treatment ◽  
Slit Ventricle

Abstract Slit ventricle syndrome is characterized by chronic or recurring headaches associated with subnormal ventricular volume in patients who have undergone shunt treatment for hydrocephalus. There appear to be at least three pathophysiological mechanisms that cause this syndrome: 1) intermittent shunt malfunction: 2) intracranial hypotension: and 3) paroxysms of increased intracranial pressure in the presence of normal shunt function. To treat seven patients with slit ventricle syndrome caused by paroxysms of elevated intracranial pressure, we successfully used antimigraine therapy rather than standard calvarial expansion procedures. None of these patients has required shunt revision or calvarial expansion during a mean follow-up period of 2 years. The symptoms of slit ventricle syndrome may be a form of “acquired” migraine in shunt patients. We suggest that, in clinically stable patients with normal shunt function, treatment against migraine may stabilize symptoms resulting from paroxysms of increased intracranial pressure. Such treatment may prevent unnecessary shunt revisions and/or calvarial expansion procedures.

Hypertensive slit ventricle syndrome: pseudotumor cerebri with a malfunctioning shunt?

2013 ◽  
Vol 119 (6) ◽  
pp. 1503-1510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant A. Bateman
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Pseudotumor Cerebri ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Slit Ventricle Syndrome ◽  
Csf Pressure ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Slit Ventricle ◽  
Brain Parenchymal ◽  
Low Pressures

Symptomatic shunt malfunction without ventricular enlargement is known as slit ventricle syndrome (SVS). Patients presenting with this syndrome are not a homogeneous group. Of the 5 different types classified by Rekate, Type 1 is caused by CSF overdrainage and is associated with low pressures; Types 2 and 3 are associated with shunt blockage and elevated CSF pressures; Type 4 is cephalocranial disproportion that increases brain parenchymal pressure but not CSF pressure; and Type 5 is headache unrelated to shunt function. The low and normal CSF pressure types are relatively well understood, but the high-pressure forms are more problematic. In the high-pressure forms of SVS it is said that the lack of ventricular dilation is related to a reduction in brain compliance analogous to idiopathic intracranial hypertension or pseudotumor cerebri. Despite this, there is little evidence in the literature to support this conjecture. With this in mind, 3 cases of SVS associated with elevated CSF pressure are presented. The MR venogram findings and hemodynamics of these 3 cases are shown to be identical to those of pseudotumor cerebri. A literature review indicates that an underlying venous impairment may be functioning in the patients who re-present with small ventricles following shunt malfunction.

Reliability of the radiopharmaceutical shunt flow study for the detection of a CSF shunt malfunction in the presence of stable ventricular size

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 364-370
Author(s):  
Jeffrey J. Quezada ◽  
J. Gordon McComb
Keyword(s):  
Ct Scan ◽  
Operative Intervention ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Csf Shunt ◽  
Technical Failure ◽  
Ventricular Size ◽  
Shunt Flow ◽  
Programmable Valve ◽  
Flow Study

OBJECTIVEThe authors sought to determine the reliability of a radiopharmaceutical (RP) shunt flow study for the detection of a CSF-diverting shunt malfunction in the presence of stable ventricular size.METHODSAfter the authors obtained IRB approval, all CSF RP shunt flow studies done between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2019, in pediatric patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles were identified. Included in the study were only those patients in whom an MRI or CT scan was done during the hospital admission for shunt malfunction and showed no increase in ventricular size compared with the most recent prior MRI or CT scan when the patient was asymptomatic. Data recorded for analysis were patient age and sex, etiology of the hydrocephalus, shunt distal site, nonprogrammable versus programmable valve, operative findings if the shunt was revised, and follow-up findings for a minimum of 90 days after admission. The RP shunt flow study consisted of tapping the reservoir and injecting technetium-99m DTPA according to a set protocol.RESULTSThe authors identified 146 RP flow studies performed in 119 patients meeting the above criteria. Four of the 146 RP studies (3%) were nondiagnostic secondary to technical failure and were excluded from statistical analysis. Of the 112 normal flow studies, operative intervention was not undertaken in 102 (91%). The 10 (9%) remaining normal studies were performed in patients who underwent operative intervention, in which 8 patients had a proximal obstruction, 1 had a distal obstruction, and 1 patient had no obstruction. Of the 30 patients with abnormal flow studies, symptoms of shunt malfunction subsided in 9 (30%) patients and these patients did not undergo operative intervention. Of the 21 (70%) operated patients, obstruction was proximal in 9 patients and distal in 5, and for 7 patients the shunt tubing was either fractured or disconnected. Regression analysis indicated a significant association between the flow study interpretation and the odds for shunt revision (OR 27, 95% CI 10–75, p < 0.0001). No other clinical variables were significant. The sensitivity of a shunt flow study alone for detection of shunt malfunction in cases with stable ventricular size was the same as a shunt flow study plus an MRI or CT (70% vs 70%), but performing a shunt flow in addition to MRI or CT did increase the specificity from 92% to 100% and the accuracy from 87% to 94%.CONCLUSIONSRP shunt flow studies were of definite value in deciding whether to operatively intervene in patients with symptoms of shunt malfunction in whom no change in ventricular size was detected on current MRI or CT scans compared to scans obtained when the patients were asymptomatic.

Radiographic assessment of snap-shunt failure

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 299-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anand I. Rughani ◽  
Bruce I. Tranmer ◽  
Jeffrey E. Florman ◽  
James T. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Normal Values ◽  
Clinical Symptoms ◽  
Type System ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Ct Scans ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt System ◽  
Ct Finding

Accurate assessment of imaging studies in patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts can be aided by empirical findings. The authors characterize an objective measurement easily performed on head CT scans with the goal of producing clear evidence of shunt fracture or disconnection in patients with a snap shunt–type system. The authors describe 2 cases of ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure involving a fracture and a disconnection associated with a snap-shunt assembly. In both cases the initial clinical symptoms were not convincing for shunt malfunction, and the interpretation of the CT finding failed to immediately identify the abnormality. As the clinical picture became more convincing for shunt malfunction, each patient subsequently underwent successful shunt revision. The authors reviewed the CT scans of 10 patients with an intact and functioning snap-shunt system to characterize the normal appearance of the snap-shunt connection. On CT scans the distance between the radiopaque portion of the ventricular catheter and the radiopaque portion of the reservoir dome measures an average of 4.72 mm (range 4.6–4.9 mm, 95% CI 4.63–4.81 mm). In the authors' patient with a fractured ventricular catheter, this interval measured 7.8 mm, and in the patient with a disconnection it measured 7.7 mm. In comparison with the range of normal values, a radiolucent interval significantly greater than 4.9 mm should promptly raise concern for a disconnected or fractured shunt in this system. This measurement may prove particularly useful when serial imaging is not readily available.

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