Pulmonary hypertension complicating a ventriculo-atrial shunt

The use of ventriculo-atrial shunts for CSF diversion in developing hydrocephalus has become rare because of the risk of chronic thrombo-embolism and subsequent pulmonary hypertension associated with an unfavourable prognosis. However, there remains a group of patients in whom ventriculo-atrial shunts have been inserted in the past. In this group, complications can occur after many years. We report on a 13-year-old girl with pulmonary hypertension caused by chronic thrombo-embolism from a ventriculo-atrial shunt.