Bladder calculus formation on the tip of a migrated disused ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Laura Butler1, Charles Keys, Jimmy P H Lam

  • 1Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Hospital for Sick Children, EH9 1LF, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.

Insights

Bladder stones are rare in children and usually linked to risk factors. This case highlights a large stone in a neuropathic bladder successfully treated endoscopically, originating from a migrated VP shunt.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Nephrolithiasis Research
  • Medical Device Complications

Background:

  • Bladder stones (vesical calculi) are uncommon in pediatric populations.
  • Stone formation typically requires underlying predisposing risk factors.

Observation:

  • A unique case involving a large bladder stone in a child with a neuropathic bladder.
  • The stone was found on the tip of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt that had migrated.

Findings:

  • Successful endoscopic management of the large bladder stone.
  • Demonstration of VP shunt migration as a potential, albeit rare, cause of stone formation in neuropathic bladders.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering device complications in pediatric stone formation.
  • Suggests endoscopic treatment as a viable option for complex bladder stones in children.
  • Underscores the need for vigilance regarding VP shunt placement and potential migration in patients with neuropathic bladders.

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