Abdominal Pseudocyst Post Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Abdominal pseudocyst (APC) is a rare but significant complication following ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) placement.
• Understanding the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and management of APC is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an updated systematic review of abdominal pseudocysts associated with ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
• To provide a comprehensive understanding of APC and guide clinical decision-making.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed adhering to PRISMA guidelines, covering publications from October 1969 to December 2022.
• 162 eligible papers comprising 208 patients were included in the analysis.

Main Results:

• The majority of patients were pediatric (62.8%) with a mean age of 12 years.
• Abdominal symptoms were most common (60.4%), and a history of shunt revision correlated with longer time to APC formation.
• Treatment often involved laparotomy and shunt revision, with a recurrence rate of 9.1% and a recovery rate of 71.2%.

Conclusions:

• Abdominal pseudocyst is a rare VPS complication requiring high clinical suspicion for timely diagnosis and management.
• This systematic review enhances the understanding of APC in VPS patients, informing treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes.