Using a burr hole valve prevents proximal shunt failure in infants and toddlers

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-322
Author(s):  
Chiu-Hao Hsu ◽  
Sheng-Che Chou ◽  
Shih-Hung Yang ◽  
Ming-Chieh Shih ◽  
Meng-Fai Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Protective Factor ◽  
Catheter Insertion ◽  
Burr Hole ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Catheter Migration ◽  
The Mean

OBJECTIVEProximal malfunction is the most common cause of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure in young children. In this study, the authors sought to determine factors that affect the migration rate of ventricular catheters in hydrocephalic children who undergo shunt implantation in the first 3 years of life.METHODSThe authors reviewed the medical records and imaging studies of newly diagnosed and treated hydrocephalic children who were younger than 3 years. Patients who received VP shunt insertion through the parieto-occipital route were not included. In total, 78 patients were found who underwent VP shunt insertion between December 2006 and April 2017. Eighteen patients were excluded due to mortality, short follow-up period (< 1 year), and lack of imaging follow-up. The age, sex, etiology of hydrocephalus, initial length of ventricular catheter, valve type (burr hole vs non–burr hole), time to ventricular catheter migration, subsequent revision surgery, and follow-up period were analyzed. The diagnosis of a migrated ventricular catheter was made when serial imaging follow-up showed progressive withdrawal of the catheter tip from the ventricle, with the catheter shorter than 4 mm inside the ventricle, or progressive deviation of the ventricular catheter toward the midline or anterior ventricular wall.RESULTSSixty patients were enrolled. The mean age was 5.1 months (range 1–30 months). The mean follow-up period was 50.9 months (range 13–91 months). Eight patients had ventricular catheter migration, and in 7 of these 8 patients a non–burr hole valve was used. In the nonmigration group, a non–burr hole valve was used in only 6 of the 52 patients. Six of the 8 patients with catheter migration needed second surgeries, which included removal of the shunt due to disconnection in 1 patient. The remaining 2 patients with shunt migration were followed for 91 and 46 months, respectively, without clinical and imaging changes. The authors found that patient age at catheter insertion, ventricular catheter length, and the use of a burr hole valve were protective factors against migration. After ventricular catheter length and patient age at catheter insertion were treated as confounding variables and adjusted with multivariable Weibull proportional hazards regression, the use of a burr hole valve shunt remained a protective factor.CONCLUSIONSThe use of burr hole valves is a protective factor against ventricular catheter migration when the shunt is inserted via a frontal route. The authors suggest the use of a burr hole valve along with a frontal entry point in hydrocephalic children younger than 3 years to maintain long-term shunt function.

ENDOSCOPIC THIRD VENTRICULOSTOMY (ETV) IS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE FOR VP SHUNT FAILURE IN NON-COMMUNICATING HYDROCEPHALUS

2021 ◽  
pp. 65-67
Author(s):  
Ramesh Tanger ◽  
Dinesh Kumar Barolia ◽  
Arka Chatterjee ◽  
Punit Singh Parihar ◽  
Arun Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Obstructive Hydrocephalus ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Third Ventriculostomy ◽  
Communicating Hydrocephalus ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt

CONTEXT: VP Shunt is most commonly used procedure for hydrocephalus but shunt failure is also the common complication in many patients. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is an accepted procedure for the treatment of obstructive hydrocephalus. The aim of our study is to evaluate the success rate AIM AND OBJECTIVE - of ETV in patients of obstructive hydrocephalus formerly treated by ventriculo-peritoneal (VP shunt) shunt. The failure VP shunt was removed before ETV. MATERIALS AND METHOD: This study was conducted between June 2015 and December 2019 in single unit of our department. Twenty one (n=21) patients were enrolled for this study. All patients were admitted with failure of VP shunt. They were known case of non-communicating hydrocephalus previously operated for VP shunt. Six patients were excluded for ETV because CT/MRI show grossly distorted anatomy of ventricles. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy was attempted in 15 patients, but ventriculostomy was done successfully in 10 patients, rests were treated with revision of VP shunt. All patients in this study were radiologically diagnosed RESULTS: case of hydrocephalus due to aqueduct stenosis. They were experienced VP shunt insertion but there were failure of shunt due to any reason. ETV procedures were done successfully in 10 patients. Out of 10 patients one patient needed shunt insertion due ineffective ETV. Shunt revision was done in 11 patients. There was no serious complication during and after ETV procedures. The follow-up period of patients with successful ETV was 6–60 months. This follow-up was uneventful and peaceful for their parents. ETV can be considered as an alternative treatment for the patients w CONCLUSION: ith VP shunt failure with an acceptable success rate of 80%, although long-term follow-up is needed for these patients.

Conversion of external ventricular drains to ventriculoperitoneal shunts after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: effects of site and protein/red blood cell counts on shunt infection and malfunction

2008 ◽  
Vol 109 (6) ◽  
pp. 1001-1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stylianos Rammos ◽  
Jeffrey Klopfenstein ◽  
Lori Augsburger ◽  
Huan Wang ◽  
Anne Wagenbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
Red Blood Cell ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Shunt Malfunction ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
The Mean

Object The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of shunt infection in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) after converting an external ventricular drain (EVD) to a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt using the existing EVD site. The second purpose was to assess the risk of shunt malfunction after converting the EVD to a permanent shunt irrespective of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein and red blood cell (RBC) counts. Methods Data obtained in 80 consecutive adult patients (18 men and 62 women, mean age 60.8 years, range 33–85 years) who underwent direct conversion of an EVD to a VP shunt for post-SAH hydrocephalus between August 2002 and March 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. In each patient, the existing EVD site was used to pass the proximal shunt catheter. In no patient was VP shunt insertion delayed based on preoperative RBC or protein counts. Results The mean period of external ventricular drainage before VP shunt placement was 14.1 days (range 3–45 days). No patient suffered ventriculitis. The mean perioperative CSF protein level was 124 mg/dl (range 17–516 mg/dl). The mean and median perioperative RBC values in CSF were 14,203 RBCs/mm3 and 4600 RBCs/mm3 (range 119–290,000/mm3), respectively. No patient was lost to follow-up. The mean follow-up duration was 24 months (range 2–53 months). Three patients (3.8%) had shunt malfunction related to obstruction of the shunt system after 15 days, 2 months, and 18 months, respectively. There were no shunt-related infections. No patient suffered a clinically significant hemorrhage from ventricular catheter placement after VP shunt insertion. Conclusions In adult patients with aneurysmal SAH, conversion of an EVD to a VP shunt can be safely done using the same EVD site. In this defined patient population, protein and RBC counts in the CSF do not seem to affect shunt survival adversely. Thus, conversion of an EVD to VP shunt should not be delayed because of an elevated protein or RBC count.

Lack of benefit of endoscopic ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion: a multicenter randomized trial

2003 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. W. Kestle ◽  
James M. Drake ◽  
D. Douglas Cochrane ◽  
Ruth Milner ◽  
Marion L. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Trial ◽  
Pediatric Neurosurgery ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Multicenter Randomized Trial ◽  
Endoscopic Insertion ◽  
Fine Print

Object. Endoscopically assisted ventricular catheter placement has been reported to reduce shunt failure in uncontrolled series. The authors investigated the efficacy of this procedure in a prospective multicenter randomized trial. Methods. Children younger than 18 years old who were scheduled for their first ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement were randomized to undergo endoscopic or nonendoscopic insertion of a ventricular catheter. Eligibility and primary outcome (shunt failure) were decided in a blinded fashion. An intention-to-treat analysis was performed. The sample size offered 80% power to detect a 10 to 15% absolute reduction in the 1-year shunt failure rate. The authors studied 393 patients from 16 pediatric neurosurgery centers between May 1996 and November 1999. Median patient age at shunt insertion was 89 days. The baseline characteristics of patients within each group were similar: 54% of patients treated with endoscopy were male and 55% of patients treated without endoscopy were male; 30% of patients treated with and 26% of those without endoscopy had myelomeningocele; a differential pressure valve was used in 51% of patients with and 49% of those treated without endoscopy; a Delta valve was inserted in 38% of patients in each group; and a Sigma valve was placed in 9% of patients treated with and 12% of those treated without endoscopy. Median surgical time lasted 40 minutes in the group treated with and 35 minutes in the group treated without endoscopy. Ventricular catheters, which during surgery were thought to be situated away from the choroid plexus, were demonstrated to be in it on postoperative imaging in 67% of patients who had undergone endoscopic insertion and 61% of those who had undergone nonendoscopic shunt placements. The incidence of shunt failure at 1 year was 42% in the endoscopic insertion group and 34% in the nonendoscopic group. The time to first shunt failure was not different between the two groups (log rank = 2.92, p = 0.09). Conclusions. Endoscopic insertion of the initial VP shunt in children suffering from hydrocephalus did not reduce the incidence of shunt failure.

Breastfeeding: a potential protective factor against ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection in young infants

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 138-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farideh Nejat ◽  
Parvin Tajik ◽  
Syed Mohammad Ghodsi ◽  
Banafsheh Golestan ◽  
Reza Majdzadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Milk ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Trend Test ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Young Infants ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nutritional Benefits

Object Previous studies have shown nutritional benefits of breastfeeding for a child's health, especially for protection against infection. Protective factors in human milk locally and systemically prevent infections in the gastrointestinal as well as upper and lower respiratory tracts. It remains unclear whether breastfeeding protects infants against ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection. Methods A cohort study was conducted from December 2003 to December 2006 at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Tehran, Iran. A total of 127 infants with hydrocephalus who were treated using a VP shunt in the first 6 months of life were enrolled. Each infant's breastfeeding method was classified as either exclusively breastfed (EBF), combination feedings of breast milk and formula (CFBF), or exclusively formula-fed (EFF). Infants were followed up to determine the occurrence of shunt infection within 6 months after operation. Statistical analysis was performed using survival methods. Results Infants ranged in age from 4 to 170 days at the time of shunt insertion (mean 69.6 days), and 57% were males. Regarding the breastfeeding categories, 57.5% were EBF, 25.2% were CFBF, and 17.3% were EFF. During the follow-up, shunt infection occurred in 16 patients, within 15 to 173 days after shunt surgery (median 49 days). The 6-month risk of shunt infection was 8.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 4–18%) in the EBF group, 16.5% (95% CI 7–35%) in the CFBF group, and 26.0% (95% CI 12–52%) in the EFF group. There was no statistically significant difference between these 3 groups (p = 0.11). The trend test showed a significant trend between the extent of breastfeeding and the risk of shunt infection (p = 0.035), which persisted even after adjustment for potential confounding variables (hazard ratio = 2.01, 95% CI 1.01–4). Conclusions This study supports the protective effect of breastfeeding against shunt infection during the first 6 months of life and the presence of a dose–response relationship, such that the higher the proportion of an infant's feeding that comes from human milk, the lower the incidence of shunt infection. Encouraging mothers of infants with VP shunts to breastfeed exclusively in the first 6 months of life is recommended.

scholarly journals P.096 Iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm of the MCA secondary to VP shunt insertion

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (s2) ◽  
pp. S41-S41
Author(s):  
A Chalil ◽  
MD Staudt ◽  
SP Lownie
Keyword(s):  
Rare Complication ◽  
Insertion Site ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Careful Consideration ◽  
External Carotid ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Pseudoaneurysm Formation ◽  
Dural Opening

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting is a common treatment for hydrocephalus. Complications of VP shunt include infection, malfunction, and hemorrhage. Vascular complications such as pseudoaneurysm are rare, and usually involve the choroid plexus or branches of the external carotid artery. We present the case of a fusiform pseudoaneurysm of the middle cerebral artery arising due to VP shunt insertion. Methods: A 36-year-old female presented with a hypertensive cerebellar hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. This was treated with VP shunt placement with limited dural opening. Three weeks afterward there developed a diffuse intraventricular hemorrhage associated with hemorrhage at the cortical insertion site of the ventricular catheter. CT and catheter angiography revealed a fusiform pseudoaneurysm of the M4 segment of the MCA immediately adjacent to the ventricular catheter. Results: The VP shunt was removed, and the aneurysmal segment was coagulated and occluded. Delayed repeat VP shunt insertion was performed through the same entry point and trajectory via a larger dural opening. Conclusions: Pseudoaneurysm formation secondary to catheter insertion is a rare complication. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of a cortical branch pseudoaneurysm in an adult. Careful consideration should be given to vascular anatomy when planning shunt insertions, and cruciate dural opening for local cortex visualization may help avoid this complication.

scholarly journals Clinical and Radiological Predictors of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion in Myelomeningocele Patients

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (B) ◽  
pp. 522-532
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. F. El Ghoul ◽  
Ahmed Hamdy Ashry ◽  
Mohamed Hamdy El-Sissy ◽  
Ibrahim Mohamed Ibrahim Lotfy
Keyword(s):  
Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽  
Surgical Repair ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Group A ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Group B ◽  
Increased Icp

BACKGROUND: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is one of the most common developmental anomalies of the CNS. Many of these patients develop hydrocephalus (HCP). The rate of cerebrospinal fluid diversion in these patients varies significantly in literature, from 52% to 92%. MMC repair conventionally occurs in the post-natal period. With the technological advances in surgical practice and fetal surgeries, intra uterine MMC repair IUMR is adopted in some centers. Cerebrospinal fluid shunting has numerous complications, most notably shunt failure and shunt infection. Studies have suggested that patients with greater numbers of shunt revisions have poorer performance on neuropsychological testing. There is also good evidence to suggest that the IQs of patients with MMC who do not undergo shunt placement are higher than that of their shunt treated counterparts. AIM: In this study, we are trying to identify strong clinical and radiological predictors for the need of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt insertion in patients with MMC who underwent surgical repair and closure of the defect initially. This will decrease the overall rate of shunt placement in this group of patients through applying a strict policy adopting only shunt insertion for the desperately needing patient. METHODS: Prospective clinical study conducted on 96 patients with MMC presented to Aboul Reish Pediatric Specialized Hospital, Cairo University. After confirming the diagnosis through clinical and radiological aids, patients are carefully examined, if HCP is evident clinically and radiologically a shunt is inserted together with MMC repair at the same session after excluding sepsis or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) infection, (GROUP A). If there are no signs of increased ICP, MMC repair shall be done alone (GROUP B). Those patients shall be monitored carefully postoperatively and after discharge and shall be followed up regularly to early detect and promptly manage latent HCP. Multiple clinical and radiological indices were used throughout the follow-up period and statistical significance of each was measured. RESULTS: Shunt placement was required in 45 (46.88%) of the 96 patients. Eighteen patients (18.75%) needed the shunt as soon as they presented to us (GROUP A), because they were having clinically active HCP. Twenty-seven (28.13%) patients were operated on by MMC repair initially without shunt placement because they did not have signs of increased ICP at the time of presentation. Yet, they developed latent HCP requiring shunt placement during the follow-up period (GROUP B2). Fifty-one patients of the study population (53.13%) underwent surgical repair of the MMC without the need of further VP insertion and they were followed up for 6 months period after the repair without developing latent HCP (GROUP B1). Patients of GROUP B were the study population susceptible for the development of latent HCP. Out of 78 patients in GROUP B, only 27 patients (34.62%) needed a VP shunt. CONCLUSION: In our study, we found that the rate of shunt insertion in patients with MMC is lower than the previously reported rate in the literature. A more thorough evaluation of the patient’s post-operative need for a shunt is mandatory. We suggest that we could accept postoperative (after MMC repair) ventriculomegaly provided it does not mean any deterioration in the patient’s clinical or developmental state. We assume that reduction of shunt insertion rate will eventually reduce what has previously been an enormous burden for a significant proportion of children with MMC.

TM3-8 Use of adjustable anti-gravity devices in NPH patients with delayed post-shunt deterioration

2019 ◽  
Vol 90 (3) ◽  
pp. e17.1-e17
Author(s):  
JP Funnell ◽  
CL Craven ◽  
L D’Antona ◽  
L Thorne ◽  
LD Watkins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Normal Pressure ◽  
Differential Pressure ◽  
Shunt Valve ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Temporary Shunt ◽  
Optimum Management

ObjectivesA subset of idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH) patients respond to VP shunt insertion temporarily. Adjustable anti-gravity devices are designed to control position-induced CSF drainage changes; we aim to assess to effect of using these devices to achieve controlled overdrainage in temporary shunt responders.DesignA single-centre retrospective study of patients undergoing VP shunt valve revision from an adjustable differential pressure valve with fixed anti-siphon (ProGAV +Shuntassistant) to a system incorporating an adjustable anti-siphon valve (ProGAV +ProSA) (April 2013-April 2018).Subjects21 patients diagnosed with temporary shunt-responsive NPH who improved on high volume shunt reservoir tap (10M: 11F). Mean age at first VP shunt insertion was 74.5±7.87 years.MethodsMedical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, interventions and clinical outcomes.ResultsMean duration until revision with a ProSA valve was 31.5±16.8 months (mean ±SD). Mean follow up was 31.4±15.9 months. Of 20 patients with sufficient follow-up, 12 made objective improvements in walking and/or neuropsychological test outcome. 15 patients made subjective improvements in mobility or cognitive impairment.ConclusionsVP shunting with adjustable differential pressure valves and fixed antigravity devices may not drain sufficient CSF for optimum management of low pressure hydrocephalus. Addition of adjustable anti-gravity devices at lower shunt settings in temporary shunt responders may improve outcome.

Robotic catheter ventriculostomy: feasibility, efficacy, and implications

2008 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Scott Lollis ◽  
David W. Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Great Promise ◽  
Ventricular Catheter ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Single Pass ◽  
Image Guided ◽  
Catheter Tip ◽  
Complications Of Surgery ◽  
Bridging Veins ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ventricle Size

Object Robotic applications hold great promise for improving clinical outcomes and reducing complications of surgery. To date, however, there have been few widespread applications of robotic technology in neurosurgery. The authors hypothesized that image-guided robotic placement of a ventriculostomy catheter is safe, highly accurate, and highly reproducible. Methods Sixteen patients requiring catheter ventriculostomy for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt or reservoir placement were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent image-guided robotic placement of a ventricular catheter, using a preoperatively defined trajectory. Results All catheters were placed successfully in a single pass. There were no catheter-related hemorrhages and no injuries to adjacent neural structures. The mean distance of the catheter tip from the target was 1.5 mm. The mean operative times were 112 minutes for VP shunt placement and 42.3 minutes for reservoir placement. The mean operative times decreased over the course of the study by 49% for VP shunts and by 19% for reservoir placement. Conclusions The robotic placement of a ventriculostomy catheter using a preplanned trajectory is safe, highly accurate, and highly reliable. This makes single-pass ventriculostomy possible in all patients, even in those with very small ventricles, and may permit catheter-based therapies in patients who would otherwise be deemed poor surgical candidates because of ventricle size. Robotic placement also permits careful preoperative study and optimization of the catheter trajectory, which may help minimize the risks to bridging veins and sulcal vessels.

scholarly journals Hydrocephalus associated with occipital encephalocele: surgical management and clinical outcome

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Ragab Nagy ◽  
Ahmed Elsayed Saleh
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Neural Tissue ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Occipital Encephalocele ◽  
Age At Surgery ◽  
Abnormal Increase ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Encephaloceles are cystic congenital malformations in which central nervous system (CNS) structures, in communication with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pathways, herniate through a defect in the cranium. Hydrocephalus occurs in 60–90% of patients with occipital encephaloceles. Objective Assessment of the surgical management of hydrocephalus associated with occipital encephalocele and its effect on the clinical outcome. Methods Between October 2015 and October 2019, a retrospective study was conducted on seventeen children with occipital encephaloceles who were operated upon. The presence of progressive hydrocephalus was determined by an abnormal increase in head circumference and an increase in the ventricular size on imaging studies. A ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was applied in patients who had hydrocephalus. The clinical outcome was graded according to the developmental milestones of the children on outpatient follow-up visits. Results The mean age at surgery was 1.6 (range, 0–15) months. There were ten girls (58.8%) and seven boys (41.2%). Ten encephaloceles (58.8%) contained neural tissue. Ten patients (58.8%) had associated cranial anomalies. Eleven children (64.7%) had associated hydrocephalus: four of them (36.4%) diagnosed preoperatively, while seven children (63.6%) developed hydrocephalus postoperatively. Ten of them (90.9%) were managed by VP shunt. All children with hydrocephalus had some degree of developmental delay, including six (54.5%) with mild/moderate delay and five (45.5%) with severe delay. Half of the patients (50%) of the children with occipital encephalocele without hydrocephalus had normal neurological outcome during the follow-up period (p value= 0.034). Conclusions Occipital encephalocele is often complicated by hydrocephalus. The presence of hydrocephalus resulted in a worse clinical outcome in children with occipital encephalocele, so it can help to guide prenatal and neonatal counseling.

scholarly journals Late pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures: a Singapore tertiary institution's experience

2016 ◽  
Vol 41 (5) ◽  
pp. E7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester Lee ◽  
Sharon Low ◽  
David Low ◽  
Lee Ping Ng ◽  
Colum Nolan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Shunt Insertion ◽  
Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
Age And Sex

OBJECTIVE The introduction of ventriculoperitoneal shunts changed the way hydrocephalus was treated. Whereas much is known about the causes of shunt failure in the first few years, there is a paucity of data in the literature regarding the cause of late shunt failures. The authors conducted a study to find out the different causes of late shunt failures in their institution. METHODS A 10-year retrospective study of all the patients who were treated in the authors' hospital between 2006 and 2015 was conducted. Late shunt failures included those in patients who had to undergo shunt revision more than 5 years after their initial shunt insertion. The patient's notes and scans were reviewed to obtain the age and sex of the patient, the time it took for the shunt to fail, the reason for failure, and the patient's follow-up. RESULTS Forty-six patients in the authors' institution experienced 48 late shunt failures in the last 10 years. Their ages ranged from 7 to 26 years (12.23 ± 4.459 years [mean ± SD]). The time it took for the shunts to fail was between 6 and 24 years (mean 10.25 ± 3.77 years). Reasons for failure resulting in shunt revision include shunt fracture in 24 patients (50%), shunt blockage in 14 patients (29.2%), tract fibrosis in 6 patients (12.5%), shunt dislodgement in 2 patients (4.2%), and shunt erosion in 2 patients (4.2%). Postoperative follow-up for the patients ranged from 6 to 138 months (mean 45.15 ± 33.26 months). CONCLUSIONS Late shunt failure is caused by the effects of aging on the shunt, and the complications are different from early shunt failure. A large proportion are complications associated with shunt calcification. The authors advocate a long follow-up for pediatric patients with shunts in situ to monitor them for various causes of late shunt failure.

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