Comparative study of lumboperitoneal shunt versus ventriculoperitoneal shunt in post meningitis communicating...

Managing post meningitis hydrocephalus in children is a herculean task for the treating pediatric surgeon or neurosurgeon because of the morbidity associated with the disease per se and the complications of shunt surgery. By this study, the effectiveness of lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt in cases of post meningitis communicating hydrocephalus was assessed in children.

This was a retrospective analysis of the records of children admitted in our institute between December 2005 and March 2008. Only children with post meningitis communicating hydrocephalus who underwent either LP or VP with a minimum follow-up period of 36 months were included in the study. Children with non-communicating hydrocephalus or hydrocephalus due to another etiology were excluded. Investigations were included plain brain computed tomography scan, air encephalography and X-ray skull. Medium pressure Chabbra shunt with slit valves was used in all cases of VP and LP shunt. A comparative analysis of the outcome was carried out between the two groups.

There were 66 males and 24 females (M: F 2.7:1. The average age at presentation was 40.3 months. LP shunt was performed in 37 while VP shunt in 53 cases Complication rate in the LP and VP shunt was 15% and 29% respectively with non-obstructed complications higher in VP group when compared to LP group. Obstructed complication rate was similar in both groups.

Due to less morbidity and ease of placement, LP shunt can be an alternative to VP shunt in cases of communicating hydrocephalus in children, which has more non-obstructed complication rates as compared to LP shunt.