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Passage of tube per rectum: an unusual complication of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt

A B Jamjoom1, J N Rawlinson, J N Kirkpatrick

  • 1Department of Neurosurgery, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The British Journal of Clinical Practice
|November 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

A rare ventriculoperitoneal shunt complication occurred when the peritoneal catheter perforated the colon, leading to misdiagnosed diarrhea. The condition was confirmed when the catheter extruded from the child's anus.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are common treatments for hydrocephalus in children.
  • Complications, though infrequent, can be severe and challenging to diagnose.
  • Peritoneal catheter perforation of the colon is an exceptionally rare event.

Observation:

  • A two-year-old child presented with diarrhea, initially suspected as gastroenteritis.
  • The child had a history of ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement.

Findings:

  • The peritoneal catheter of the VP shunt perforated the child's colon.
  • The extruded catheter was discovered exiting the child's anus, confirming the perforation.

Implications:

  • This case highlights a rare but serious complication of VP shunts.
  • Accurate and timely diagnosis of VP shunt complications is crucial in pediatric patients.
  • Awareness of such rare presentations can improve diagnostic accuracy in similar cases.

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