[Ileus in an infant caused by a ventriculoperitoneal shunt]

The authors describe a case of adhesive ileus caused by the intraperitoneal part of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt which was performed on account of congenital hydrocephalus. Preserving the patency of the ventriculoperitoneal drainage, the ileus was treated according to principles of abdominal surgery. The functional catheter was left in situ. Complete intestinal occlusion is one of the very rare intraabdominal complications of ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In the discussion the authors analyze available data from the literature on intestinal occlusion with the above aetiology.