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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction due to chronic cholecystitis: A case report
Qi Yu1,2,3, Chengjian Lou1,2,3, Tianda Feng1,2,3
1Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University.
Rationale:
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) is the most common treatment for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, a subtype of hydrocephalus characterized by gait disturbance, dementia, and urinary incontinence. However, while the malfunction of VPS is reported at a high rate, the involvement of chronic cholecystitis in shunt malfunction is rare.
Patient Concerns:
A 73-year-old woman with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus who received a VPS but subsequently developed chronic cholecystitis. The patient suffered from drowsiness and was unable to walk. Her family found that she presented with poor appetite and was bloated.
Diagnoses:
Chronic cholecystitis was confirmed through abdominal computed tomography, which showed a swollen, and enlarged gallbladder, and flatulence. A head computed tomography scan indicated hydrocephalus with enlarged ventricular system and paraventricular edema.
Interventions:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed successfully, requiring no further shunt manipulation.
Outcomes:
The patient's memory and cognitive ability were slightly impaired without a positive sign in the abdomen. No catheter or abdominal infection signs were observed during the following 3 months of follow-up.
Conclusion:
To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to reveal that shunt malfunction may result from chronic cholecystitis, which induced the presently observed intra-abdominal hypertension.
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