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Updated: Jun 10, 2025
Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus
Published on: October 14, 2022
Evaluation of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections and risk factors in children
Rahmet Anar Akbaş1, Özlem Özgür Gündeşlioğlu2, Asena Ünal3
1Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
Insights
Pediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections are common early after surgery. Elevated C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein before shunt placement are key risk factors for infection and recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunts are crucial for managing hydrocephalus in children.
- Shunt infection is a significant complication, leading to morbidity and treatment challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment data of pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections.
- To identify risk factors associated with the development and recurrence of these infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 85 pediatric patients (0-18 years) with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection (2016-2021).
- Comparison with a control group of 48 patients who underwent shunt placement without infection.
- Evaluation of clinical, laboratory, and treatment data, including pre-shunt C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein levels.
Main Results:
- Fever, anorexia, vomiting, and altered consciousness were common presenting symptoms.
- Patients with shunt infection had a significantly higher number of shunt revisions compared to controls (p < 0.001).
- Pre-shunt C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein levels were significantly elevated in infected patients (p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infections predominantly occur within the initial months post-surgery.
- Preventing surgical site contamination is critical for reducing infection incidence.
- Elevated pre-shunt C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein are significant predictors for ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and recurrence.
Introduction:
To evaluate the demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and treatment data of pediatric patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and risk factors for ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.
Methods:
Patients aged 0-18 years who were diagnosed with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection at Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Hospital between 2016 and 2021 were included in the study. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. Risk factors for the development and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection were evaluated. Patients who underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt but did not develop any shunt infection were selected as the control group.
Results:
Eighty-five patients with a diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection were included in the study. Fever (58.8%), anorexia (58.8%), vomiting (56.5%), and altered consciousness (54.1%) were the most common complaints at admission. The control group consisted of 48 patients. The number of shunt revisions was statistically significantly higher in the group that developed ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection compared to the control group (p < 0.001). In patients with ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection, C-reactive protein and cerebrospinal fluid protein values before shunt insertion were found to be statistically significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection occurs most frequently in the first months after shunt application. Therefore, it is extremely important to prevent colonization and contamination during surgery in preventing the development of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection. In the present study, cerebrospinal fluid protein elevation and C-reactive protein elevation before shunt application were found to be significant in terms of the development and recurrence of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection.
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