Subpericranial shunt valve placement: a technique in patients with friable skin

One of the nightmares of placing a shunt in patients with friable skin is an exposed shunt or shunt valve with risk of infection of the hardware which may lead to meningitis or ventriculitis with poor outcome. Another feared complication is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak from the wound with subsequent wound dehiscence. The patients at risk of shunt hardware exposure include children who have fragile skin or skin at risk (either from prematurity, malnutrition, steroid therapy or very large head with pressure on the skin).

This technique involves making a scalp incision with the pericranium taken in one layer with the galea or if the galeal flap has been raised, a pericranial incision is made and a pericranial flap is raised. A subpericranial pouch is developed and a shunt passer used to tunnel the shunt to the abdomen. The pericranial layer is closed, the galea and subcutaneous layer also approximated, and a continuous subcurticular stitch applied.

We present a malnourished infant with postinfective hydrocephalus having a thin skin requiring a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. A subpericranial technique was used and the patient did well.

This technique is simple and provides a water-tight wound cover, with the pericranium giving reinforcement and better tensile strength, as well as a fairly good protection for the shunt valve. This is useful in preventing CSF leaks and exposure of the shunt with the associated morbidity and mortality.