[Migration of subduro-peritoneal shunt into the subdural space of an infant (author's transl)]

A ten-month-old baby was admitted to our clinic with the diagnosis of bilateral chronic subdural hematomas. He had complained of general convulsion during the past 3 months. Evacuation of hematomas was performed on both sides through burr holes in the parietal region. Several weeks following the evacuation of hematomas, subduroperitoneal (S-P) shunting operation was further performed bilaterally for the collection of fluid in the subdural spaces, using a "Pudenz" shunting catheter with a reservoir. The catheter was fixed at the connector of the reservoir and the peritoneal catheter by several silk sutures to the epicranium. Three weeks after S-P shunting operation the right shunting system was not felt on his head on palpation, and the abnormal high density spots were shown inside the right subdural space on CT. The right craniotomy revealed that the whole shunting system was located in the right subdural space. Technical problems of the shunting operation and the several factors of the patient which may contribute to such a rare complication of this surgical procedure are briefly discussed.