Vp Shunt Infection

Although obstruction and infection are the most common causes of shunt malfunction other complications can occur as well including bowel perforation pseudocyst formation and over draining which can lead to subdural hematoma formation.

Vp shunt infection. However shunt infection is a common complication with a rate ranging from 5 6 to 12 9 1. The majority of shunt infections occur within 3 months of the shunt surgery. The only independent risk factor that predicted failure was retention of the vp shunt regardless of the strategy.

Shunt infection is a common complication of shunt surgery. Vp shunt removal particularly tssr when the patient is shunt dependent remains the optimal choice of treatment and does not increase morbidity. A proportion of patients with shunt infection will have a blocked shunt.

Hence it is important to consider shunt infection in anyone who presents with shunt blockage relatively early following vp shunt insertion. Ventriculoperitoneal vp shunts drain excess cerebrospinal fluid csf from the cerebral ventricles commonly to the peritoneal cavity. This is the largest series of vp shunt infections in adults reported to date.