Abdominal wall pseudocyst as a complication of ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion: a case report

The abdominal cavity has long been used to absorb cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) procedure in hydrocephalus patients. Although this procedure is quite common, some complications can potentially arise. This study aimed to report a case of pseudocyst formation as a rare complication (<5% incidences) following a VP shunt insertion. A case of a 62-year-old male patient with a history of communicating hydrocephalus post-VP shunt insertion presented with symptoms of acute progressive right abdominal pain and was found a formation of large abdominal wall pseudocyst. An upper abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a well-defined cystic mass lesion located intraperitoneally in the right hypochondrium. He subsequently underwent an exploratory laparotomy and surgical excision of the pseudocyst, followed by improved symptoms experienced. Clinicians must be aware of this complication because early diagnosis and prompt management will eventually improve outcomes for reducing abdominal pain and improving the patient's quality of life.