Bladder perforation by ventriculoperitoneal shunt

Bladder perforation by ventriculoperitoneal shunt is a rare complication that has been describe in 19 cases in prior literature.

This work describes the case of a 4-month-old baby who presented with extrusion of the distal catheter through the urethra. The patient underwent a laparotomy; the catheter was cut close to the bladder wall and repositioned into the peritoneal cavity. The bladder wall was sutured, and the remaining distal portion of the catheter was removed through the urethra.

Based on this single experience and a literature review, the authors classified the clinical signs and symptoms of bladder perforation by the ventriculoperitoneal shunt catheter. Finally, the authors propose a more conservative approach for this rare complication.