Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Infections Cause Acute Abdomen and Peritonitis: A Case Series

Patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) often present to emergency departments with acute abdomen. It is challenging to distinguish between the abdominal problems caused by a VPS and acute surgical abdomen having another cause because VPS infections occasionally cause peritonitis. The frequencies and clinical features of acute abdomen caused by VPS infection are unknown.

This was a retrospective analysis of all patients with a VPS who presented with acute abdomen to emergency department for a 10-year period. Clinical data, diagnostic workflow, and subsequent treatment were assessed using patient medical records.

In total, 1679 patients presented with acute abdomen; of these, 24 (1.4%) had a VPS at the time of presentation. Of the 24 patients, 12 had an acute surgical abdomen related to gastrointestinal sources with subsequent therapy. In the remaining 12 patients (50%), peritonitis was caused by a VPS infection; seven of these had erroneous abdominal surgeries because of misdiagnosis. Patients with shunt infections as a source of peritonitis underwent shunt surgeries within the past 10 wk (mean, 58 d). Patients with an acute surgical abdomen with gastrointestinal sources had their most recent shunt surgery at a mean of 4.7 y before presentation to the emergency department.

Acute abdomen and peritonitis are challenging in the presence of a VPS. Shunt infections frequently mimic acute surgical abdomen and may lead to misdiagnosis, unnecessary diagnostic procedures, unnecessary surgery, and delay in receiving the appropriate treatment. Shunt surgery in recent patient history is suggestive of VPS infection, and a shunt tap should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.