Short-term complications of ventriculoperitoeal shunt in children suffering from hydrocephalus

To assess various complications in children with hydrocephalus after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. This descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Neurosurgery, Lady Reading Hospital and Al-Ibrahimi Hospital, Peshawar, Pakistan, from September 2005 to April 2007. A total of 86 children, 48 male and 38 female patients, with male to female ratio of 1: 1.3 were included. Age range of patients was from 2 months to 13 years with mean age of 4.3 years. Seventy-nine cases were operated electively while seven cases operated in emergency due to poor clinical condition. Shunt malfunctioning due to obstruction of upper end was noted eight cases (9.3%), shunt infection in seven (8.1%) cases, seizure four (4.7%) cases, paralytic ileus in five (5.8%) cases, shunt extrusion per rectum in two (2.3%) cases, bilateral subdural hematoma in three (3.5%) cases, hydrocele and shunt erosion in two (2.3%) cases each. Two (2.3%) deaths were recorded in the study, which was not related with the surgery or with shunt complication. It is concluded that various complications may develop during and after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery. Shunt malfunction and infection are main causes for its failure and poor prognosis, although a list of other rare possible complications can also be expected.