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.

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.

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.

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.

scholarly journals How do we change practice?

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2(May-August)) ◽  
pp. e932021
Author(s):  
John Kestle
Keyword(s):  
Infection Rate ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Csf Shunt ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Skin Preparation ◽  
Prevention Protocol ◽  
Csf Shunt Infection

OBJECT: The goal of this video lecture was to show the importance to research group organizing protocols to reduce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infection at Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) centers (from 8.7% to 5.7%). Antibiotic-impregnated catheters (AICs) were not part of the protocol but were used off protocol by some surgeons. The authors therefore began using a new protocol that included AICs in an effort to reduce the infection rate further. The improvement of quality was related to reduce variation and improve outcome. METHODS The previous protocol was implemented at HCRN centers on January 1, 2012, for all shunt procedures (excluding external ventricular drains [EVDs], ventricular reservoirs, and subgaleal shunts). Compliance with the protocol and outcome events up to March 30, 2014, were recorded. The actual protocol is based on 7 points (HCRNq centers): intravenous antibiotics, skin preparation, hand scrub, double gloves, iodophoretic surgical field, catheter and antibiotics, and vancomycin irrigation RESULTS. Before protocol implementation in 30 participating centers, and 1318 subjects (1571 surgical cases) enrolled the overall infection rate was 6.0% (95% CI 5.1%-7.2%). The actual infection rate when using this new protocol has been analyzed. CONCLUSIONS CSF shunt procedures performed in compliance with a new infection prevention protocol at HCRNq centers had a lower infection rate than noncompliant procedures. Based on the current data, HCRNq centers the role of AICs compared with other infection prevention measures is still under analysis.

scholarly journals A standardized protocol to reduce cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection: The Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network Quality Improvement Initiative

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
John R. W. Kestle ◽  
Jay Riva-Cambrin ◽  
John C. Wellons ◽  
Abhaya V. Kulkarni ◽  
William E. Whitehead ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Clinical Research ◽  
Risk Reduction ◽  
Infection Rate ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Surgical Team ◽  
Standardized Protocol ◽  
Protocol Compliance

Object Quality improvement techniques are being implemented in many areas of medicine. In an effort to reduce the ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection rate, a standardized protocol was developed and implemented at 4 centers of the Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN). Methods The protocol was developed sequentially by HCRN members using the current literature and prior institutional experience until consensus was obtained. The protocol was prospectively applied at each HCRN center to all children undergoing a shunt insertion or revision procedure. Infections were defined on the basis of CSF, wound, or pseudocyst cultures; wound breakdown; abdominal pseudocyst; or positive blood cultures in the presence of a ventriculoatrial shunt. Procedures and infections were measured before and after protocol implementation. Results Twenty-one surgeons at 4 centers performed 1571 procedures between June 1, 2007, and February 28, 2009. The minimum follow-up was 6 months. The Network infection rate decreased from 8.8% prior to the protocol to 5.7% while using the protocol (p = 0.0028, absolute risk reduction 3.15%, relative risk reduction 36%). Three of 4 centers lowered their infection rate. Shunt surgery after external ventricular drainage (with or without prior infection) had the highest infection rate. Overall protocol compliance was 74.5% and improved over the course of the observation period. Based on logistic regression analysis, the use of BioGlide catheters (odds ratio [OR] 1.91, 95% CI 1.19–3.05; p = 0.007) and the use of antiseptic cream by any members of the surgical team (instead of a formal surgical scrub by all members of the surgical team; OR 4.53, 95% CI 1.43–14.41; p = 0.01) were associated with an increased risk of infection. Conclusions The standardized protocol for shunt surgery significantly reduced shunt infection across the HCRN. Overall protocol compliance was good. The protocol has established a common baseline within the Network, which will facilitate assessment of new treatments. Identification of factors associated with infection will allow further protocol refinement in the future.

scholarly journals Post V-P shunt surgical site EDH an uncommon complication: case report

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 253-256
Author(s):  
Manish Garg ◽  
Deepashu Sachdeva ◽  
Ketan Patel ◽  
Anita Jagetia ◽  
A. K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Ct Scan ◽  
Rare Complication ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Shunt Surgery ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Post Surgery ◽  
Shunt Migration ◽  
Uncommon Complication

Abstract ventriculoparitoneal shunt is well established modality of treatment for hydrocephalous. Complication of v-p shunt are also mentioned in literature like shunt infection shunt migration etc [8]. Here we are describing a rare complication of vp shunt which barely mentioned in literature. A 22 yr male admitted with complain of headache & vomiting patient was diagnosed to have tubercular meningities with hydrocephalous. Patient planned for ventriculoparietoneal shunt surgery and vp shunt was done. On 3rd post-surgery day patient develop weakness in Left side of body. Urgent ncct head done which showed EDH at surgical site. Immediate craniotomy and evacuation of hematoma was done patient improved and discharged. Thus we are discussing the importance of meticulous surgery for v-p shunt, post op ct scan and treatment.

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.

Factors associated with 30-day ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in pediatric and adult patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian A. Anderson ◽  
Louise F. Saukila ◽  
James M. W. Robins ◽  
Christopher Y. Akhunbay-Fudge ◽  
John R. Goodden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Future Research ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Significant Variable ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Patient Age ◽  
Vp Shunt ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Patient Âgé ◽  
Operative Notes

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive benchmark of 30-day ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failure rates for a single institution over a 5-year study period for both adult and pediatric patients, to compare this with the results in previously published literature, and to establish factors associated with shunt failure.METHODSA retrospective database search was undertaken to identify all VP shunt operations performed in a single, regional neurosurgical unit during a 5-year period. Data were collected regarding patient age, sex, origin of hydrocephalus, and whether the shunt was a primary or secondary shunt. Operative notes were used to ascertain the type of valve inserted, which components of the shunt were adjusted/replaced (in revision cases), level of seniority of the most senior surgeon who participated in the operation, and number of surgeons involved in the operation. Where appropriate and where available, postoperative imaging was assessed for grade of shunt placement, using a recognized grading system. Univariate and multivariate models were used to establish factors associated with early (30-day) shunt failure.RESULTSSix hundred eighty-three VP shunt operations were performed, of which 321 were pediatric and 362 were adult. The median duration of postoperative follow-up for nonfailed shunts (excluding deaths) was 1263 days (range 525–2226 days). The pediatric 30-day shunt failure rates in the authors’ institution were 8.8% for primary shunts and 23.4% for revisions. In adults, the 30-day shunt failure rates are 17.7% for primary shunts and 25.6% for revisions. In pediatric procedures, the number of surgeons involved in the operating theater was significantly associated with shunt failure rate. In adults, the origin of hydrocephalus was a statistically significant variable. Primary shunts lasted longer than revision shunts, irrespective of patient age.CONCLUSIONSA benchmark of 30-day failures is presented and is consistent with current national databases and previously published data by other groups. The number of surgeons involved in shunt operations and the origin of the patient’s hydrocephalus should be described in future studies and should be controlled for in any prospective work. The choice of shunt valve was not a significant predictor of shunt failure. Most previous studies on shunts have concentrated on primary shunts, but the high rate of early shunt failure in revision cases (in both adults and children) is perhaps where future research efforts should be concentrated.

Factors associated with early shunt revision within 30 days: analyses from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ali Alvi ◽  
Archis R. Bhandarkar ◽  
David J. Daniels ◽  
Kai J. Miller ◽  
Edward S. Ahn
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Shunt Infection ◽  
Shunt Revision ◽  
Shunt Failure ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Surgical Quality ◽  
Lower Odds ◽  
Factors Associated

OBJECTIVE CSF shunt insertion is the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedure for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus, and complications including infections and catheter obstruction are common. The rate of readmission in the first 30 days after surgery has been used across surgical disciplines to determine healthcare quality. In the current study, the authors sought to assess factors associated with early shunt revision within 30 days using real-world data. METHODS Targeted shunt data set participant user files of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) from 2016 to 2019 were queried for patients undergoing a shunt procedure. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to assess the impact of demographics, etiologies, comorbidities, congenital malformations, and shunt adjuncts on shunt revision within 30 days, as well as shunt revision due to infection within 30 days. RESULTS A total of 3919 primary pediatric shunt insertions were identified in the NSQIP database, with a mean (± SD) patient age of 26.3 ± 51.6 months. There were a total of 285 (7.3%) unplanned shunt revisions within 30 days, with a mean duration of 14.9 ± 8.5 days to first intervention. The most common reason for intervention was mechanical shunt failure (32.6% of revision, 2.4% overall, n = 93), followed by infection (31.2% of all interventions, 2.3% overall, n = 89) and wound disruption or CSF leak (22.1% of all interventions, 1.6% overall, n = 63). Patients younger than 6 months of age had the highest overall unplanned 30-day revision rate (8.5%, 203/2402) as well as the highest 30-day shunt infection rate (3%, 72/2402). Patients who required a revision were also more likely to have a cardiac risk factor (34.7%, n = 99, vs 29.2%, n = 1061; p = 0.048). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared to patients 9–18 years old, those aged 2–9 years had significantly lower odds of repeat shunt intervention (p = 0.047), while certain etiologies including congenital hydrocephalus (p = 0.0127), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) of prematurity (p = 0.0173), neoplasm (p = 0.0005), infection (p = 0.0004), and syndromic etiology (p = 0.0136), as well as presence of ostomy (p = 0.0095), were associated with higher odds of repeat intervention. For shunt infection, IVH of prematurity was found to be associated with significantly higher odds (p = 0.0427) of shunt infection within 30 days, while use of intraventricular antibiotics was associated with significantly lower odds (p = 0.0085). CONCLUSIONS In this study of outcomes after pediatric shunt placement using a nationally derived cohort, early shunt failure and infection within 30 days were found to remain as considerable risks. The analysis of this national surgical quality registry confirms that, in accordance with other multicenter studies, hydrocephalus etiology, age, and presence of ostomy are important predictors of the need for early shunt revision. IVH of prematurity is associated with early infections while intraventricular antibiotics may be protective. These findings could be used for benchmarking in hospital efforts to improve quality of care for pediatric patients with hydrocephalus.

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.

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