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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Laparoscopy-assisted ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in children: a series of 11 cases
Andrew Jea1, Merdas Al-Otibi, Arnaud Bonnard
1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Laparoscopy-assisted placement of the peritoneal catheter for ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts is safe and effective in children. This minimally invasive technique ensures accurate catheter placement and shunt system patency.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Neurosurgery
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are crucial for managing hydrocephalus in children.
- Traditional shunt placement involves laparotomy, which can lead to complications.
- Laparoscopy offers potential advantages for distal catheter placement.
Observation:
- A retrospective review of 11 pediatric patients undergoing VP shunt placement or revision was conducted.
- All distal peritoneal catheters were implanted using laparoscopy with pediatric general surgeon assistance.
- The study period was from July 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006.
Findings:
- Laparoscopy-assisted distal catheter placement was successful in all 11 pediatric patients.
- No periprocedural complications were observed during the surgeries.
- One case of incisional hernia was noted during short-term follow-up.
Implications:
- Laparoscopy-assisted VP shunt catheter implantation is a safe and effective approach in pediatric patients.
- This minimally invasive technique facilitates accurate peritoneal catheter placement and retrieval of fractured segments.
- The procedure allows for confirmation of shunt system patency, improving surgical outcomes.
Object:
The use of laparoscopy-assisted placement of the distal catheter of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt has been well described in the literature, and several advantages of laparoscopy over laparotomy have been documented.
Methods:
The authors retrospectively reviewed the charts of 11 consecutive children with hydrocephalus of various origins who underwent surgery for initial VP shunt placement or for revision of an existing VP shunt system between July 1, 2006, and December 31, 2006. The peritoneal catheter in all of these cases was implanted using a laparoscopic procedure and with the aid of a pediatric general surgeon. Laparoscopy-assisted placement of the distal catheter was successful in all patients. There were no periprocedural complications. There was one complication, an incisional hernia, noted in the short-term follow-up period.
Conclusions:
The authors illustrate that laparoscopy-assisted implantation of a peritoneal catheter is a safe, effective, minimally invasive, and technically easy approach for VP shunt placement or revision in children. It allows accurate placement of the distal catheter in the peritoneal cavity, enables retrieval of fractured catheter segments, and allows confirmation of the patency of the shunt system.