• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.120-124
• /
• 2021

Objective : Infection is one of most devastating complications in ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt surgery. Preoperative hair removal has traditionally been performed to reduce infectious complications. We performed VP shunt surgeries and evaluated the prevalence of infection in patients who were shaved and those who were unshaven. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted of 82 patients with hydrocephalus of various pathologies who underwent VP shunt surgery, with or without having the head shaved, between March 2010 and March 2017. For patients in the non-shaved group (n=36), absorbable suture materials were used for wound closure, and Nylon sutures or staples were used in the shaved group (n=46). We evaluated the infection outcomes of patients in the two groups. Results : There was no difference in the average age of patients in the two groups. In the non-shaved group, there were no infections, while two patients in the shaved group required revision because of shunt infection. Conclusion : Non-shaved shunt surgery may be safe and effective, with no increase of infection rate. We recommend that shunt procedures could be performed without shaving the hair, which may increase patients' satisfaction without increasing infection risk.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.143-146
• /
• 2011

A ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is a standard surgical management for hydrocephalus, but complications may impede the management of this disease. Obstruction of the catheter is one of the most common complications and manifests clinically in various ways. Intraparenchymal cyst development after shunt malfunction has been reported by several authors, but the underlying mechanism and optimal treatment methods are debatable. The authors report a case of intraparenchymal cyst formation around a proximal catheter in a premature infant after a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and discuss its pathogenesis and management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.57 no.5
• /
• pp.359-363
• /
• 2015

Objective : Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt complication is a major obstacle in the management of hydrocephalus. To study the differences of VP shunt complications between children and adults, we analyzed shunt revision surgery performed at our hospital during the past 10 years. Methods : Patients who had undergone shunt revision surgery from January 2001 to December 2010 were evaluated retrospectively by chart review about age distribution, etiology of hydrocephalus, and causes of revision. Patients were grouped into below and above 20 years old. Results : Among 528 cases of VP shunt surgery performed in our hospital over 10 years, 146 (27.7%) were revision surgery. Infection and obstruction were the most common causes of revision. Fifty-one patients were operated on within 1 month after original VP shunt surgery. Thirty-six of 46 infection cases were operated before 6 months after the initial VP shunt. Incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients compared to older. Two of 8 fractured catheters in the younger group were due to calcification and degradation of shunt catheters with fibrous adhesion to surrounding tissue. Conclusion : The complications of VP shunts were different between children and adults. The incidence of shunt catheter fracture was higher in younger patients. Degradation of shunt catheter associated with surrounding tissue calcification could be one of the reasons of the difference in facture rates.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.196-202
• /
• 2010

Abdominal cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst is an uncommon complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) performed for hydrocephalus. The incidence of VPS complications in children is higher than in adults. There are controversies and difficulties in the treatment of the abdominal pseudocyst. We report a case of abdominal pseudocyst complicating VPS in a boy. Partial excision of pseudocyst and replacement of the VP shunt were effective during a followup of 18 months postoperatively with no recurrence.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.97-100
• /
• 2014

The number of patients with chronic renal failure who require renal replacement therapy is increasing and dialysis is still the mainly used renal replacement therapy. The first choice of surgical technique currently used is side-to-end anastomosis of the radial artery and the cephalic vein. The authors report on a case of an effective arteriovenous shunt operation performed using microscopy. A 53-year-old male with chronic renal failure was referred to plastic and reconstructive surgery department to undergo an arteriovenous shunt operation. Venography was performed before surgery in order to find the appropriate vessel for the arteriovenous shunt operation. The cephalic vein on the wrist showed a diameter of over 4 mm, which was appropriate for an arteriovenous shunt operation. Anastomosis of the vessels was performed under microscopy using Nylon #9-0. Blood flow and vessel diameter were evaluated by venography after surgery and showed well maintained function of the shunt. Complications such as bleeding, edema of the upper arm, and wound dehiscence did not occur. Many factors and certain complications may affect the long-term patency of an arteriovenous shunt; however, exquisite surgical technique is the most important factor in a successful operation. Thus, arteriovenous shunt operation using microscopy is thought to be a good treatment option.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.270-273
• /
• 2000

Ventriculoperitoneal(V-P) shunt has been used as a popular method for surgical treatment of hydrocephalus. But complications such as infection, mechanical obstruction and failure of flow rate sometimes make painful stress to neurosurgeons and patients. Of particular, migration of distal V-P shunt catheter to extraperitoneal space has rarely been reported. Even rarer is intracardiac migration of distal V-P shunt catheter. Authors report a such case and discuss the possible mechanism and preventive method.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.171-174
• /
• 2008

We report an unusual case of a sigmoid colon perforation after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Distal catheters are known to cause perforation in the setting of colonoscopy. The exact pathogenesis of this complication is not clear, but it can cause serious complications. Hence, patients require prompt and aggressive management, including laparotomy with bowel wall repair, catheter removal, and antibiotic therapy.

• Journal of Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.117-119
• /
• 2017

There are a number of complications associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery. The authors present a rare case of iatrogenic common carotid artery injury during VPS surgery.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.50 no.6
• /
• pp.448-452
• /
• 2017

Background: Proper monitoring of cerebral perfusion during carotid artery surgery is crucial for determining if a shunt is needed. We compared the safety and reliability of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) w ith transcranial Doppler (TCD) for cerebral monitoring. Methods: This single-center, retrospective review was conducted on patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) using selective shunt-based TCD or NIRS at Daegu Catholic University Medical Center from November 2009 to June 2016. Postoperative complications were the primary outcome, and the distribution of risk factors between the 2 groups was compared. Results: The medical records of 74 patients (45 TCD, 29 NIRS) were reviewed. The demographic characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. One TCD patient died within the 30-day postoperative period. Postoperative stroke (n=4, p=0.15) and neurologic complications (n=10, p=0.005) were only reported in the TCD group. Shunt usage was 44.4% and 10.3% in the TCD and NIRS groups, respectively (p=0.002). Conclusion: NIRS-based selective shunting during CEA seems to be safe and reliable for monitoring cerebral perfusion in terms of postoperative stroke and neurologic symptoms. It also reduces unnecessary shunt usage.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.227-231
• /
• 1978

Since January 1973 we have performed 47 arteriovenous shunts and 22 arteriovenous fistulas for 57 patients with acute or chronic renal failure. Of these 57 cases, 50 cases had chronic renal failure and the other 7 cases had acute renal failure. The most frequent complications after operations were thrombosis, bleeding and infection. Less frequently dislodgement of shunt and aneurysmal change of the fistula were found. After 47 arteriovenous shunts, 21 those complications [44%] were found. On the other hand after 22 arteriovenous fistulas, 5 complications were found. Now we are using the arteriovenous shunt only for the patients who need emergency short term hemodialysis and temporary dialysis until arteriovenous fistula could be used.