Lumbocaval Shunt for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Technical Report and Case Series

Neurosurgical management of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) can be challenging given high rates of revision associated with cerebrospinal fluid shunting. In this study, we present a technical report and early outcomes for lumbocaval shunt (LCS) placement in difficult-to-manage cases.

A literature search was performed for previous reports of LCS or lumboatrial shunt. Electronic medical records of patients who underwent placement of LCS for the treatment of IIH at a single institution were reviewed. Based on early experience and outcomes, our modified technique for LCS is described.

Six patients (4 females, median age 36 years [IQR 31-43]) underwent placement of LCS between October 2023 and April 2024. LCS was completed in all cases without intraoperative complications. The median operative time was 88.5 minutes [IQR 79.5-158.8]. One patient developed low-pressure headaches that resolved after the addition of a shunt-assist device. Five of 6 patients reported improved headache at the last follow-up visit, with 4 of 5 patients reporting that their high-pressure headaches completely resolved (median time to the last follow-up of one month [IQR 1-2 months]). During the study period, one shunt revision was performed because of migration of the lumbar shunt into a suprafascial pocket. This led to modification of the surgical technique, specifically the inclusion of anchoring dips.

LCS may represent an alternative shunting technique in difficult-to-manage patients with IIH. Further assessment of long-term outcomes is needed.