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Updated: Jul 12, 2025
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
A Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt With Anal Protrusion Causing Meningitis in A Child
Ahmed Basehi1,2,3, Abdullah M Al-Saleh1,2,3, Haitham Almoffarreh1,2,3
1Pediatric Emergency Medicine Department, Ministry of the National Guard - Health Affairs, Riyadh, SAU.
Insights
A rare complication of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts involves tube migration. This case highlights a VP shunt migrating to the anus, leading to meningitis in a pediatric patient.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts are standard treatments for hydrocephalus, involving frequent neurosurgical procedures.
- Complications include insertion failure, functional issues, and mechanical failures like shunt migration.
- Migration into the gastrointestinal or urogenital tracts is a rare but serious complication, potentially causing infection and meningitis.
Observation:
- A 24-month-old male patient with a VP shunt presented with a rare complication.
- The shunt tube migrated and protruded from the anus.
- This unusual presentation was followed by the development of meningitis.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates an extreme instance of VP shunt mechanical failure.
- Shunt migration to the anus is a rare but critical event.
- Ascending infection from migrated shunt components can lead to meningitis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of vigilance for rare VP shunt complications.
- Prompt diagnosis and management are crucial for pediatric patients with shunt migration.
- Understanding such rare events can inform surgical techniques and patient monitoring protocols.
Abstract:
The ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt has been one of the primary methods for treating hydrocephalus for many years and is one of the most frequent surgical interventions performed in neurosurgery using a variety of techniques and different VP shunt types. Consequently, shunt insertion is associated with many complications, including insertion failure, functional failure, and mechanical failure such as shunt migration. Shunt migration to the gastrointestinal or urogenital tract is a rare and one of the most distressing complications, which can lead to ascending infection and even meningitis. We report a rare case of a 24-month-old male with a VP shunt tube that migrated and protruded from the anus, subsequently causing meningitis.
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