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Symptomatic pleural collection of cerebrospinal fluid caused by a ventriculopleural shunt
D Y Sanders1, R Summers, L DeRouen
1Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson 39216, USA.
Southern Medical Journal
|March 1, 1997
Insights
A rare complication of ventriculopleural shunts, cerebrospinal fluid pleural collection, occurred in a child. Physicians should recognize this risk, especially since these shunts are infrequently used for hydrocephalus management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
- Thoracic Medicine
Background:
- Hydrocephalus management often involves cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunting.
- Ventriculopleural shunts are less common than ventriculoperitoneal shunts.
- Potential complications of CSF shunting require careful monitoring.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old child presented with symptoms related to a pleural effusion.
- The effusion was identified as cerebrospinal fluid.
- A ventriculopleural shunt was found to be the cause of the CSF pleural collection.
Findings:
- Symptomatic pleural collection of cerebrospinal fluid is a potential complication of ventriculopleural shunts.
- This specific complication is infrequently reported due to the rarity of ventriculopleural shunt usage.
- Early recognition is crucial for appropriate patient management.
Implications:
- Primary care physicians and pediatricians must be aware of this uncommon but serious complication.
- Diagnostic vigilance is necessary when evaluating respiratory symptoms in patients with ventriculopleural shunts.
- Alternative shunting strategies may be considered to mitigate this risk.
Abstract:
We report a case of symptomatic pleural collection of cerebrospinal fluid caused by a ventriculopleural shunt in a 4-year-old child. Since ventriculopleural shunts are not commonly used in the management of hydrocephalus, primary physicians must be aware of this potential complication.