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Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Percutaneous gastrostomy in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: case series and review
Robert Baird1, Robert Salasidis
1Department of General Surgery, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Canada.
Insights
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement is safe for patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunts. This study found no shunt malfunctions or complications, indicating PEG is a viable option for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Neurosurgery
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Limited data exists on the safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) in patients with ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts.
- VP shunts are crucial for managing cerebrospinal fluid, and their integrity is paramount.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and complications of PEG placement in patients with pre-existing VP shunts.
- To assess the risk of shunt malfunction or related complications following PEG insertion.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records from January 1, 1991, to January 1, 1999.
- Inclusion criteria: patients with VP shunts who underwent PEG placement.
- Data collection focused on immediate, short-term, and long-term complications.
Main Results:
- Six patients with VP shunts underwent PEG placement.
- No immediate complications related to PEG insertion were observed.
- One patient experienced pneumonia two months post-PEG; no shunt malfunctions, intra-abdominal issues, or wound infections occurred.
- No long-term complications involving the VP shunt or PEG were reported.
Conclusions:
- Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) placement appears safe in patients with pre-existing ventriculoperitoneal shunts when prophylactic antibiotics are administered.
- Despite the small sample size, the findings suggest a favorable safety profile for PEG in this specific patient population.
Background:
There are few data on the safety of PEG in patients with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
Methods:
Medical records for patients seen in 3 tertiary care, university-affiliated hospitals between January 1, 1991, and January 1, 1999, were reviewed.
Observations:
Six patients underwent PEG after ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement during the study period. There was no immediate complication. One patient died of pneumonia 2 months after PEG insertion. There was no instance of shunt malfunction, intra-abdominal complication, or wound infection in the study group. There was no long-term complication, with either the ventriculoperitoneal shunt or the PEG.
Conclusions:
Although the number of cases was small, PEG placement with prophylactic administration of antibiotics appears to be safe in patients with a pre-existing ventriculoperitoneal shunt.
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