Shunt catheter impacted in the vena cava

✓ The authors report an unusual case of superior vena cava thrombosis in an infant who subsequently developed communicating hydrocephalus; they also review previously reported cases of dural sinus hypertension, and separate them into two groups. Patients in the first group develop hydrocephalus and those in the second develop a pseudotumor-like syndrome. The former patients tend to have generalized increase in intracranial venous pressure while the latter have a normal pressure in some major intracranial venous structure(s). The absence of venous cushioning of the choroid plexus pulse wave is proposed as the cause of ventricular enlargement in the former group. In addition, patients in the large-ventricle group were younger than patients in the small-ventricle group.

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Recanalization of occluded superior vena cava for replacement of LeVeen shunt catheter.

Radiology ◽

10.1148/radiology.164.1.2954184 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 164 (1) ◽

pp. 270-272 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

I Vujic ◽

L B Moore ◽

H H LeVeen

Keyword(s):

Superior Vena Cava ◽

Superior Vena ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Shunt Catheter

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Ventriculofemoroatrial shunt: a viable alternative for the treatment of hydrocephalus

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1997.86.6.1063 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 86 (6) ◽

pp. 1063-1066 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Matthew F. Philips ◽

Steven B. Schwartz ◽

Alexander D. Soutter ◽

Leslie N. Sutton

Keyword(s):

Superior Vena ◽

Femoral Vein ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Distal Catheter ◽

Content Type ◽

Shunt Placement ◽

Shunt Catheter ◽

Intercurrent Disease ◽

Feasible Alternative

✓ Children with shunted hydrocephalus often have a myriad of other medical conditions. When these concomitant problems involve the pleura, peritoneum, and/or the venous system, placement of the distal catheter may prove to be problematic. This report presents preliminary results in three hydrocephalic children following ventriculofemoroatrial shunt placement. The peritoneal and pleural cavities in each of these children were compromised and there was no vascular access into the superior vena cava due to intercurrent disease. An alternative technique for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement was performed via the femoral vein. Fluoroscopic guidance was used to confirm the intraatrial position of the distal end of the shunt catheter. Follow-up review to date shows no complications. This newly described technique provides a feasible alternative to distal shunt catheter placement in patients in whom more traditional sites are unavailable.

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Intravascular repositioning of a ventriculoatrial shunt

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1972.36.4.0512 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 36 (4) ◽

pp. 512-514 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

William J. McSweeney

Keyword(s):

Right Atrium ◽

Superior Vena ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Ventriculoatrial Shunt ◽

Content Type ◽

Gentle Traction ◽

Left Innominate Vein ◽

The Right ◽

In Infants And Children ◽

Fine Print

✓ Intravascular repositioning of a misdirected ventriculoatrial shunt from the left innominate vein into the right atrium was accomplished using a Muller guidewire deflector system. The guidewire and its surrounding small polyethylene catheter were inserted into a left superficial saphenous vein and advanced through the right side of the heart into the superior vena cava. The deflector system was activated and easily hooked the misplaced ventriculoatrial catheter. With gentle traction it was repositioned in the right atrium. The simplicity and safety of this approach make it recommended for use in infants and children.

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Knotted ventriculoatrial catheter

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/jns.1980.52.3.0407 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 407-409 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David F. Dean

Keyword(s):

Superior Vena ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Feeding Tube ◽

Axillary Vein ◽

Basilic Vein ◽

Content Type ◽

Infant Feeding Tube ◽

Facial Vein ◽

Atrial Catheter ◽

The Right

✓ In this patient a No. 5 French infant feeding tube was advanced through the right basilic vein into the superior vena cava, and became knotted around the end of an atrial catheter placed in the left common facial vein. The atrial catheter stretched sufficiently to allow excision of the knot as it came through the antecubital incision. It then snapped back up into the axillary vein. A shuntgram with 60% Renograffin demonstrated the position of the ventriculoatrial catheter in the axillary vein. Subsequently, the catheter slid back into the atrial position.

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