Title: VP Shunt Complications<br/>Author: David Gatz<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/1576/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are common. Unfortunately shunt complications are also common! </p>
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There are 3 major categories of shunt complications:</p>
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<strong>Mechanical Failure</strong> - obstruction, fracture, disconnection, migration, perforation</li>
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<strong>Functional Failure</strong> - overdrainage, slit ventricle syndrome, pseudocyst, ascites, meastasis</li>
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<strong>Infection</strong> - may occur in up to 10% of patients (bacterial, fungal, parasitic)</li>
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Shunt series are helpful, but are <u>NOT</u> 100% sensitive. If you have a clinical concern for a shunt complication, make sure to involve neurosurgery.</p>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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For more reading:</p>
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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7053664/</li>
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https://www.ebmedicine.net/topics/neurologic/pediatric-ventriculoperitoneal-shunt</li>
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https://www.annemergmed.com/article/S0196-0644(16)00025-1/fulltext</li>
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