Vp Shunt Complications Radiology

Other complications associated with vp shunts include surgery related complications shunt overdrainage and slit ventricle syndrome neoplastic metastasis pleural effusion and complications related to shunt variants.

Vp shunt complications radiology. This brief review intends to provide useful information to the radiologists to know the basics of these shunts and their potential complications. Complications discussed include mechanical failure infection ventricular loculation overdrainage and unique complications related to each shunt type. Cases of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction malposition misposition misplacement ap and lateral radiographs of the abdomen shows the distal portion of the vp shunt to be broken into multiple fragments.

Other complications include scoliosis and hyperlordosis limited spinal flexion transient back pain sciatica transient neck pain lower limb neurological changes arachnoiditis and rarely migration of the lp shunt. Although obstruction and infection are the most common causes of shunt malfunction other complications can occur as well including bowel. Acquired chiari malformation with tonsillar herniation.

Abdominal complications can occur in people with hydrocephalus treated with a shunt. This article reviews the imaging features of common csf shunts and related complications with which radiologists should be familiar. Report on such shunt appearances or their complications.

Disconnections breaks most common in the neck. Other complications associated with vp shunts include surgery related complications shunt overdrainage and slit ventricle syndrome neoplastic metastasis pleural effusion and complications. Ap radiograph of the skull shows a discontinuity between the tip of the vp shunt and the rest of the vp shunt.

Although ventriculoperitoneal vp shunts do not have fewer complications than ventriculoatrial shunts the complications are less severe and have a lower mortality rate. Imaging analysis is an essential adjunct to the clinical evaluation of patients with suspected vp shunt malfunctions or. Ventriculoperitoneal vp shunts are a highly effective treatment for hydrocephalus.

Shunt obstruction and infection continue to be common problems with vp shunts resulting in recurrent hospital admissions for revisions and replacements amounting to billions in medical costs per year. Curr trends clin med imaging 1 4. Unfortunately shunt malfunction is common occurring in up to 40 of cases at 1 year and 70 of cases at 10 years 1 clinical presentation in the setting of shunt failure is highly variable.