Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Risk of failure in pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunts placed after abdominal surgery
Joshua D Burks1, Andrew K Conner1, Robert G Briggs1
1Departments of 1 Neurosurgery and.
Insights
Pediatric shunt surgery shortly after abdominal surgery is linked to reduced shunt survival. Consider alternative shunt placements when feasible to improve outcomes for these patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Medical Device Performance
Background:
- Clinical experience suggests a link between shunt malfunction and recent abdominal surgery.
- Limited literature explores the relationship between abdominal surgery and shunt survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between abdominal surgery and ventriculoperitoneal shunt survival in pediatric patients.
- To compare shunt survival rates in patients with and without a history of abdominal surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt operations over a 7-year period.
- Comparison of shunt survival times between patients with prior abdominal surgery and a general pediatric cohort.
- Univariate and multivariate analyses to identify factors influencing shunt failure.
Main Results:
- 141 patients (468 shunt operations) were analyzed; 34 had prior abdominal surgery.
- Shunt surgery within 2 weeks of abdominal surgery showed an association with shunt failure (adjusted HR 3.6).
- Shunt surgery over 2 weeks after abdominal surgery was not significantly associated with shunt failure (p=0.86).
Conclusions:
- Performing shunt surgery soon after abdominal surgery correlates with decreased shunt survival.
- Alternative shunt termini may be beneficial for select patients to enhance shunt longevity.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE Experience has led us to suspect an association between shunt malfunction and recent abdominal surgery, yet information about this potential relationship has not been explored in the literature. The authors compared shunt survival in patients who underwent abdominal surgery to shunt survival in our general pediatric shunt population to determine whether such a relationship exists. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective review of all cases in which pediatric patients underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt operations at their institution during a 7-year period. Survival time in shunt operations that followed abdominal surgery was compared with survival time of shunt operations in patients with no history of abdominal surgery. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors associated with failure. RESULTS A total of 141 patients who underwent 468 shunt operations during the period of study were included; 107 of these 141 patients had no history of abdominal surgery and 34 had undergone a shunt operation after abdominal surgery. Shunt surgery performed more than 2 weeks after abdominal surgery was not associated with time to shunt failure (p = 0.86). Shunt surgery performed within 2 weeks after abdominal surgery was associated with time to failure (adjusted HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.3-9.6). CONCLUSIONS Undergoing shunt surgery shortly after abdominal surgery appears to be associated with shorter shunt survival. When possible, some patients may benefit from shunt placement utilizing alternative termini.
