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Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt-Associated Ascites: A Case Report.
Saud E Suleiman1,2, Anastasia Tambovtseva3, Elena Mejery4
1Gastroenterology, Florida State University (FSU) College of Medicine, Daytona Beach, USA.
Cureus
|July 21, 2020
Summary
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts can cause ascites, a rare complication, particularly in adults. This case highlights a 32-year-old female with ascites linked to her VP shunt, emphasizing the need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatric Medicine
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are standard for managing hydrocephalus and elevated intracranial pressure.
- VP shunt placement is invasive, carrying risks including rare complications like ascites.
- Ascites associated with VP shunts is exceptionally uncommon, with limited reports, predominantly in pediatric cases.
Observation:
- A 32-year-old female presented with ascites of unknown origin.
- The patient had a history of VP shunt placement in infancy due to a central nervous system malformation (agenesis of the corpus callosum).
- Medical workup excluded liver disease, infection, and malignancy as causes of ascites.
Findings:
- Ascites in this adult patient was definitively attributed to VP shunt drainage.
- This represents an exceedingly rare instance of VP shunt-associated ascites in the adult population.
- The precise mechanisms driving VP shunt-associated ascites remain unclear.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for rare VP shunt complications in adults.
- Further investigation into the pathogenesis of VP shunt-associated ascites is crucial.
- Understanding these mechanisms may lead to improved preventative and therapeutic strategies for this complication.
