Ultrasound-guided puncture of a Dandy-Walker cyst via the lateral and III ventricles

Since the Dandy-Walker syndrome was first described by Dandy and Blackfan, Taggart and Walker, the many variants of posterior fossa anomalies, the appropriate management of these malformations and the clinical outcome have been the subjects of controversy. Surgery of the posterior fossa with membrane excision was initially the preferred method of treatment. Unfortunately, there was a high rate of complications, and many of the patients treated in this way still needed a shunting system. Ventricular-peritoneal and/or cysto-peritoneal shunting is commonly used to treat symptomatic posterior fossa cysts of Dandy-Walker malformations and hydrocephalus. Cysto-peritoneal shunt implantation only was associated with a high rate of complications, and most patients so treated needed a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt in addition. According to the literature, combined ventriculo-peritoneal and cysto-peritoneal shunting is needed for satisfactory decompression of Dandy-Walker cyst and hydrocephalus in between 16% and 92% of cases. We report on a young patient with a Dandy-Walker malformation who needed drainage of the posterior fossa and a ventricular shunt. We decided to drain the cyst and the supratentorial ventricles via a single, especially prepared, catheter with many perforations. The catheter was inserted under ultrasound guidance. The tube was inserted from the left lateral ventricle through the foramen of Monro into the III ventricle and downwards into the cyst. Intraoperatively, an immediate decrease in the size of the cyst and the supratentorial ventricles was observed. Postoperative MRI confirmed the exact position of the catheter and sufficient drainage of the posterior fossa cyst and the ventricles. Six months later the girl was seen in our outpatient department. Clinical examination showed no neurological deficit, and MRI demonstrated sufficient drainage of the ventricles and the Dandy-Walker malformation, and in addition hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. Received: 31 March 1999     

Broncho-pleural fistula due to trans-diaphragmatic migration of the distal end of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt

We report two cases of broncho-pleural fistula resulting from trans-diaphragmatic migration of the distal catheter of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Relevant literature on thoracic complications of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt is reviewed. The clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of V-P shunt-related broncho-pleural fistulae are discussed.     

Hepatic cerebrospinal fluid pseudocyst: a case report and review of the literature

An abdominal pseudocyst is a rare, but important complication in patients with a ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt insertion. Several predisposing factors for this complication have been suggested, including infection, obstruction or dislodgement, but the pathophysiology is still unknown. However, the abdominal inflammatory process is accepted widely as a hypothesis for the formation of an abdominal pseudocyst. In this study, we report the case of a 21-year-old male that presented with a high-grade fever, poor appetite, shortness of breath and unconsciousness 1 week after receiving a VP shunt insertion for obstructive hydrocephalus. Ultrasonography and computed tomographic scans of the abdomen revealed a well-defined large hepatic cyst surrounding the peritoneal tube of the VP shunt. A hepatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cyst was diagnosed and Staphylococcus epidermis was cultured via CSF. After externalization of the VP shunt and adequate antibiotic treatment, the hepatic cyst was resolved. There was no recurrence observed in the regular follow up.     

Sub-galeal coiling of the proximal and distal components of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt An unusual complication and proposed mechanism

We describe the case of a child in whom proximal migration of the peritoneal catheter and extrusion of the ventricular catheter resulted in the entire ventriculo-peritoneal shunt along with the shunt chamber (Orbis Sigma II valve) lying in a sub-galeal pocket in the occipital region in a tightly coiled fashion. This coiling was very similar in appearance to that of the pre-insertion shunt in the packaging when it is supplied; hence it is postulated that the migration was secondary to retained ’memory’ of the shunt tubing. This is a rare complication of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt, which has not been described before. Received: 8 March 1999     

Chronic subdural hematoma as a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunts

Nine cases of chronic subdural hematoma occurring after the insertion of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts are described. Three patients were children, two were adults with stenosis of the Sylvian aqueduct, and the last four had normal pressure hydrocephalus. Patients with chronic hydrocephalus were initially treated with burr holes associated to transient occlusion of the distal catheter of the diversion in order to promote reexpansion of the compressed hemisphere. Two shunt-dependent patients were successfully treated with a concurrent subdural-peritoneal shunt. In two cases a higher pressure shunt was inserted, and in another craniotomy with membranectomy was required to treat persistent subdural fluid accumulation. One patient died due to infectious complications of multiple procedures.     

Spontaneous extrusion of migrated ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter through chest wall: a case report

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is the most commonly performed procedure for the management of hydrocephalus. VP shunt related complications remain a persistent problem in clinical practice. However, extrusion of components of shunt apparatus is very rare. Extrusion of ventriculo-peritonea l(VP) shunt catheter is an unusual complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt Surgery. The authors report a case of a 17-year old female who presented with spontaneous extrusion of VP shunt catheter through the anterior chest wall. Pertinent literature is reviewed regarding the etiology and remedial measures to minimize this unusual complication of a very commonly performed neurosurgical procedure.     

The use of an adjustable valve to treat over-drainage of a cyst-peritoneal shunt in a child with a large sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst

Introduction The cyst-peritoneal shunt is a recognised surgical alternative in the management of sylvian fissure arachnoid cysts. Shunt overdrainage is well described in literature on ventriculo-peritoneal shunts, but not often appreciated as a complication of cysto-peritoneal shunts.Case report A 5-year-old boy presented with a symptomatic left sylvian fissure arachnoid cyst. This was initially treated by craniotomy and membrane fenestration in the carotid cistern. Recurrence led to insertion of a valveless cyst-peritoneal shunt 5 months later. Initial progress was followed by persistent headaches 18 months after shunt insertion. CT scan revealed a significant reduction in the cyst size, enlargement of the ipsilateral lateral ventricle, collapse of the contra-lateral ventricle and midline shift towards the side of the shunt. These findings were interpreted as over-drainage of the cyst-peritoneal shunt.Result A Codman Medos adjustable valve was inserted, with the intention of gradually increasing the pressure until the midline shift was restored and the contra-lateral ventricle was reconstituted. This was achieved with the valve set at 90 mm H₂O, verified by CT scan. Radiological improvement was associated with dramatic symptomatic improvement.Conclusion Over-drainage of cyst-peritoneal shunts is often not appreciated, especially when the main manifestation is headaches. As it is difficult to predict the required valve pressure setting, it may be advisable to consider the use of an adjustable valve.The material of this paper was presented as a poster at the 31st Annual Meeting of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery, Monaco, 14–18 September 2003     

同期颅骨修补和脑室-腹腔分流治疗颅脑损伤后颅骨缺损合并脑积水

目的探讨早期一次性颅骨修补术及脑室-腹腔分流术对颅脑损伤后颅骨缺损合并脑积水中的治疗效果。方法回顾分析2003年1月至2008年10月同期进行颅骨修补及脑室-腹腔分流治疗的颅脑损伤后颅骨缺损合并脑积水患者34例的临床资料。本组手术时机均在伤后96d以内。结果术后意识及神经功能障碍不同程度改善30例（88．2％）；无明显变化4例。术后并发分流管梗阻1例，颅内感染2例。恢复良好18例（52．9％，18，34），中残8例（23．5％，8／34），重残或植物生存8例（23．5％，8，34），无手术死亡病例。结论颅脑损伤术后颅骨缺损、脑膨出、脑积水严重影响患者的预后，早期或同期行颅骨修补及脑室－腹腔分流术并发症少，且可明显减少患者的意识及神经功能障碍。     

Cerebrospinal fluid galactorrhea: a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunting.

In this report we describe a 26-year-old woman who had an intra-abdominal pseudocyst located at the peritoneal catheter tip following ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt implantation. Retrograde cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flowed outside the catheter and communicated with the right breast lactiferous ductal system and leaked from the nipple orifice. CSF galactorrhea only occurs when the lactiferous duct is injured during VP shunt implantation, in combination with the formation of an intra-abdominal CSF pseudocyst prior to lactiferous duct healing. Leakage of CSF from the nipple orifice can be successfully treated by simply guiding the peritoneal catheter tip into the peritoneal cavity through a new laparotomy; that is, shunt revision is not always required.     

Shunt dysfunction due to calcification of a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt: a case report.

Calcification and related dysfunction of ventriculo-peritoneal shunts are rare events in neurosurgical practice. Shunt calcification causes shunt dysfunction in two ways, namely disconnection and obstruction.We present a 16-year-old girl with shunt malfunction due to disconnection secondary to calcification. The shunt tubing fractured during attempted removal and some of the remaining components, including the ventricular catheter, had to be left in situ. The shunt was revised and the patients symptoms resolved. Replacement of the calcified and perished shunt components with a new shunt is essential. Aggressive surgical manipulation for removal of the remaining shunt components is not advisable as this may increase morbidity and mortality.     

Endovascular intervention for repositioning the distal catheter of ventriculo-atrial shunt

Displacement of distal ventriculo-atrial (VA) shunt is not uncommon. However, misplacement of the distal catheter of VA shunt in the internal jugular vein is a possibility, especially when conducted without intraoperative monitoring. We describe a patient in whom a VA shunt was performed due to failure of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt and the distal catheter of the shunt was found to be misplaced in the left internal jugular vein. Endovascular intervention via femoral vein was used to retrieve the distal catheter.     

Acute cholecystitis complicating ventriculo-peritoneal shunting: report of a case and review of the literature

Case A 3-year-old boy underwent emergency external ventricular drainage and excision of a fourth ventricle anaplastic ependymoma. A week later, the child was given a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt. Fourteen days after shunting, the child developed a subphrenic abscess and acute cholecystitis that required surgery. Results A Staphylococcus epidermidis was isolated both from the ventricular catheter and CSF and from the subphrenic abscess and the gallbladder. To our knowledge, this is the first report of cholecystitis evolving as a descending shunt infection. The current literature related with this unique complication is briefly reviewed.     

腹腔镜辅助下治疗脑积水

目的探讨比较腹腔镜辅助下的脑室-腹腔(V-P)分流术与传统文献报道的V-P分流术的手术疗效。方法本组23例，梗阻性脑积水16例，交通性脑积水7例。19例颅内压高于正常。均行V-P分流术。将分流管的脑室端置入侧脑室的额角，分流泵置于耳后。腹腔端置管时，在腹腔镜的辅助下，于剑突下进入腹腔，并用一穿刺针带7号丝线，在右腋中、腋后线第八肋间刺入腹腔，将7号丝线带入腹腔，并固定于肝膈面。结果23例均行随访3～35个月．平均18个月。术后1周、1个月及3个月行头颅CT检查，脑室缩小至正常20例，2例好转，1例引流过度呈裂隙状。行腹部X线平片检查，所有病例引流管均在肝膈面。23例均无引流管阻塞发生，无颅内感染及腹腔感染。4例脑肿瘤患者术后9～13月死亡。结论腹腔镜辅助下的侧脑室-肝隔间隙分流术治疗脑积水，与传统的常规V-P分流术比较，具有切口小、创伤轻、恢复快的特点，人工气腹使肝隔间隙显露良好、视野大而开阔、手术操作空问大、使分流管末端粘连及阻塞的可能性明显减少。     

Protrusion of a peritoneal catheter via abdominal wall and operated myelomeningocele area: a rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Background

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting is mostly used in the treatment of hydrocephalus, and many complications have been reported with this method. These complications include obstruction, mechanical shunt failure, infection, and abdominal complications. Abdominal complications include intestinal obstruction, volvulus, peritonitis, peritoneal cyst, cerebrospinal fluid ascites, as well as migration of the distal catheter via the intestinal tract, umbilicus, scrotum, and vagina. Various mechanisms have been suggested with regards to the catheter migration.

Case report

We present a case of a 21-month-old female patient who had myelomeningocele at birth. She underwent repair of the myelomeningocele at the age of 10 days. After 4 months, cranial computed tomography revealed hydrocephalus, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed. Because of shunt dysfunction, a new ventriculoperitoneal shunt system was installed at the age of 12 months. Eight months later, her mother noticed the protrusion of peritoneal catheter via abdominal wall and repaired myelomeningocele area. Revision of the lower end of the shunt was done, and myelomeningocele area was repaired again.

Conclusion

We report a unique patient with the protrusion of the distal catheter through repaired myelomeningocele area and abdominal wall in the lumbar region.     

Hydrocephalus and epilepsy

Since the introduction of ventriculo-atrial and/or ventriculo-peritoneal shunting for hydrocephalic patients, controversies have developed regarding the likelihood of epileptic seizures developing as a result of the shunting itself and/or its complications. On the other hand, hydrocephalus is not commonly recognized as a cause of seizures in general, although epilepsy is reported to be frequently associated with shunt-treated hydrocephalus, especially in children. Several authors have reported an increased risk of epileptic seizures after shunt placement, but the underlying mechanisms are still controversial. The insult to the brain at the time of ventricular catheter insertion, the presence of the shunt tube itself as a foreign body, the burr hole location, the number of shunt revisions after malfunction, associated infection, the etiology of hydrocephalus, and associated mental retardation are thought to be related to the risk of epilepsy. Age at the time of initial shunt placement also seems to be an important factor. Early shunting is a well-known determinant of risk in shunt obstruction, and children less than 2 years old are consequently at a higher risk of developing epilepsy than older ones. It is reported that antiepileptic drug treatment is not so reliable as might be expected. Conscientious and more sophisticated EEG recording in those children may be beneficial during follow-up. The incidence of seizures in shunted children is reported to be quite high, ranging from 20% to approximately 50%, so that neurosurgeons should pay more attention to the issue of epilepsy in hydrocephalic children. Although ventriculo- extracranial shunts have been the standard treatment for hydrocephalus for decades, the long-term morbidity, including postshunt epileptic seizures, has to be taken seriously. The use of neuroendoscopic techniques when indicated may ameliorate this problem a great deal in the future. Received: 1 June 2000     

脑积水脑室-腹腔分流术的并发症及处理对策

目的 探讨脑室-腹腔(VP)分流术后并发症的诊断及其防治方法.方法 回顾性分析l86 例VP 分流术后发生并发症的18 例临床资料.结果 186 例患者术后并发症发生率为9.6% (18 /186),其中颅内感染6 例,腹部感染1 例,皮下隧道感染1 例,分流管堵塞4 例,分流过度2 例,分流不足4 例.结论 预防V...     

Posttraumatic intraventricular arachnoid cyst accompanied by pseudomeningoencephalocele in a child

Growing skull fracture (GSF) is a rare complication of head trauma. A posttraumatic intraventricular arachnoid cyst (AC), neither isolated nor accompanied by a GSF has not been reported previously. A seven-year-old girl was admitted after a severe head injury with a separated right parieto-occipital fracture and contusion. She responded well to conservative therapy. Seven weeks after discharge, she was re-admitted with a large parieto-occipital pseudomeningoencephalocele due to herniation of cerebrospinal fluid and neural tissue to the subgaleal space through the widened fracture defect, an extra-axial cyst at the posterior interhemispheric space and an intraventricular cystic mass. She underwent open surgery, and the intraventricular cystic mass was totally removed. The histological findings were consistent with an AC. One week after dural repair, hydrocephalus developed, and a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt was inserted. She did well during two-year follow-up. The present case is unique as an intraventricular AC following head trauma. When an intraventricular cystic lesion is encountered after severe head trauma, the possibility of an AC should be considered; especially with neighboring contused neural tissue and leptomeningeal cyst formation.     

Hemorrhagic colloid cyst of the third ventricle: A rare cause of colloid cyst growth and progressive hydrocephalus. Case report

IntroductionAcute spontaneous bleeding within a colloid cyst of the third ventricle is extremely rare. Accordingly, is difficult to establish reliable prognostic factors, risk factors for obstructive hydrocephalus remain poorly defined, and there are no standard management strategies.Case presentation19-Year-old man with a colloid cyst of the third ventricle causing obstructive hydrocephalus is described, initially treated with partial endoscopic removal and ventriculo-peritoneal shunt placement. Serial neuroimaging follow-up showed gradual growth of the cyst due to clinically silent intracystic recurrent hemorrhage. Microsurgical transcallosal approach was performed and the cyst was totally resected. Pathological examination demonstrated hemorrhages of varying ages within the tumor.ConclusionBleeding within a colloid cyst must be considered when neuroimaging follow-up shows cyst growth, even with no clinical events associated. Hemorrhagic changes within the colloid cyst should be considered in the surgical indication and approach.     

A simple and consistent technique for ventricular catheter insertion using a tripod

Objective

For long-term preservation of ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt function, it is essential to place the ventricular catheter tip above the foramen of Monro. But the free-hand technique for ventricular catheter passage is not consistent.

Methods

Supposing that a convex of skull matches to a sphere, in which the foramen of Monro is the center, a perpendicular direction from the surface of the sphere to inside always directs toward the center. The authors identified the range of skull where corresponded to the sphere by magnetic resonance imaging assessment and utilized tripod to achieve exactly perpendicular insertion of ventricular catheter. And an optimal length of catheter insertion was investigated by navigation system.

Results

The anterior–posterior range of the spherical portion was from coronal suture to 20 mm anterior, and the lateral range of it was between 15 and 35 mm lateral from sagittal suture. The optimal catheter length for insertion was between 55 and 58 mm from the brain surface. Ideal placement of a ventricular catheter tip was achieved in more than 90% of cases (31/34) with this technique.

Conclusion

Tripod-guided ventricular catheter insertion is a simple and reliable method for VP shunt at any angle of head-rotation.     

Outlet fenestration for isolated fourth ventricle with and without an internal shunt

Conventional shunting of isolated fourth ventricle is notorious for leading to frequent and severe complications. We present four patients with isolated fourth ventricle who have been treated with open posterior fossa surgery together with either outlet fenestration alone or outlet fenestration and a fourth ventricle-spinal subarachnoid space (SSS) shunt. A survey of the relevant literature did not yield any other case reports of fourth ventricle shunting to the SSS under such circumstances. This paper discusses the reasons for choosing this mode of treatment. The main advantage of this technique is that the catheter is inserted along the anatomical long axis of the fourth ventricle. This positioning lessens the possibility of irritating or penetrating the brain stem. Moreover, as a more physiological solution, the shunt does not require a valve system. Because of these advantages, internal fourth ventricle-SSS shunting is proposed as a valid alternative to the "classic" fourth ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.