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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
14:59
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Cerebral vasospasm in shunt infection
Martin H Deininger1, Ansgar Berlis, Juergen Buttler
1Department of General Neurosurgery, University of Freiburg Medical School, Breisacher Str. 64, Freiburg 79106, Germany. martin.deininger@uni-tuebingen.de
Neurocritical Care
|July 28, 2007
Summary
Bacterial shunt infection can cause severe cerebral vasospasms, a dangerous complication leading to brain infarction. Prompt recognition and treatment are crucial for patients with shunt infections who do not improve with antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation is a common complication of bacterial shunt infections.
- This inflammation can lead to serious vascular issues, such as cerebral vasospasms.
Observation:
- A 35-year-old woman with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt presented with facial nerve palsy and somnolence.
- Infection with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was identified in the shunt catheters.
- Cerebral vasospasms and subsequent infarctions were diagnosed via imaging and sonography.
Findings:
- Despite aggressive treatment including triple-H therapy and intraarterial spasmolysis, the patient developed bilateral anterior and medial artery infarctions.
- The patient's condition deteriorated, resulting in a vegetative state upon discharge.
Implications:
- This case highlights cerebral vasospasms as a critical and potentially devastating complication of bacterial shunt infection.
- Clinicians should consider cerebral vasospasms in patients with shunt infections who show no improvement with standard antibiotic therapy.
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