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Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
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Ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction from cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia in children: case-based update

R Shane Tubbs1, Mitchel Muhleman, Marios Loukas

  • 1Section of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. shane.tubbs@chsys.org

Child'S Nervous System : Chns : Official Journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery
|July 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Sterile shunt malfunction in children can be caused by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia. Removing antibiotic-impregnated catheters resolved eosinophilia and restored shunt function.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Neurosurgery
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts are critical for managing hydrocephalus.
  • Shunt malfunction is a frequent complication with diverse causes, including obstruction and mechanical failure.

Observation:

  • A pediatric case presented with sterile ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction.
  • The malfunction was associated with profound CSF eosinophilia following the use of an antibiotic-impregnated catheter.

Findings:

  • Removal of the antibiotic-impregnated catheter led to spontaneous resolution of CSF eosinophilia.
  • The patient subsequently had a functioning shunt with a non-antibiotic impregnated catheter.

Implications:

  • Elevated CSF eosinophilia without infection suggests potential cellular obstruction, leading to sterile shunt malfunction.
  • This highlights the importance of considering eosinophilic infiltration in shunt malfunction diagnosis.
  • Antibiotic-impregnated catheters may be associated with sterile shunt malfunction due to CSF eosinophilia.
Abstract

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