Impact of variation in management strategy for ventriculoperitoneal shunt complications on outcomes: a case...

Complications of VP (ventriculoperitoneal) shunting are common neurosurgical problems which are frequently difficult to manage. Variations in management approach as a possible contributory factor affecting outcome is an aspect that is yet to be explored.

The authors aimed to study this relationship.

The authors present a series on VP shunt complications and review documented findings on similar complications extracted from studies selected by systematic review of the literature with a focus on variation in management approach in relation to outcome. The index of qualitative variation (IQV) was calculated to quantify the extent of variability.

These complications ranged from shunt migration and shunt obstruction to skin erosion and infection as well as problems of overdrainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Out of 168 selected publications describing management of VP shunt complications, 64 papers with 428 cases described VP shunt complications similar to those presented in the series with the majority being case reports (n = 48; 75%). The IQV values ranged from 0.70 to 0.99 for all complication categories, demonstrating significant variation in treatment approach. Despite the variation noted across those clearly describing treatment and reporting outcomes (119 out of the 428 cases), only three papers documented recurrence of complications after intervention, while only six patients died following intervention.

Majority of patients with VP shunt complications end up with good outcomes irrespective of the relatively wide variation in management approach. This suggests that other factors such as early recognition and timely intervention should probably be the more important considerations to focus on rather than the technicality of the treatment itself in achieving optimal outcomes.