Obstruction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt by air bubble: A case report

Complications related to Ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement are common, and multiple. Among them blockage and infection. We report a case of 44 years old man admitted to our hospital after an obstruction of his ventriculo-peritoneal shunt by an air bubble that caused behavioral problems and confusion. The patient was operated twice, the last time the puncture point had to be changed. The follow up was marked by a clear clinical improvement. Shunt malfunction continues to be a common neurosurgical problem in patients with shunted hydrocephalus, often leading to frequent and sometimes lengthy hospital stays. This case illustrates the management of this rare situation causing air bubble shunt obstruction.