Ventriculoperitoneal shunt mechanical failure: Difference between revisions

(Created page with "==Background== ===Causes=== *Fracture of tubing **Occurs many years after shunt placement in distal tubing **May present w/ mild symptoms of incr ICP and local symptoms of pai...")
 
 
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*Fracture of tubing
*Fracture of tubing
**Occurs many years after shunt placement in distal tubing
**Occurs many years after shunt placement in distal tubing
**May present w/ mild symptoms of incr ICP and local symptoms of pain, erythema, edema
**May present with mild symptoms of increased ICP and local symptoms of pain, erythema, edema
*Disconnection
*Disconnection
**Occurs shortly after insertion
**Occurs shortly after insertion
*Migration
*Migration
**Presents as shunt failure
*Misplacement
*Misplacement
**Usually manifests postoperatively
**Usually manifests postoperatively


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
*Shunt fractures may present with localized symptoms over the area (pain, erythema, fluid at skin)
*Features of [[elevated ICP]]
**[[Bulging fontanelle]]s in infants
**Irritability, [[lethargy]]
**[[Headache]]
**[[Nausea/vomiting]], poor feeding
**[[Seizure]]
**Cushing's triad


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
{{VP shunt prob DDX}}
{{VP shunt prob DDX}}


==Diagnosis==
==Evaluation==
*Shunt series (AP and lateral x=rays of skull, AP x-rays of [[CXR|chest]] and [[KUB|abdomen]])
*Consider [[CT head]]
*24% of patients with documented shunt malfunction may show no radiologic evidence of the malfunction on plain films or CT<ref>Kim  TY, Stewart  G: Signs and symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunction in the pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006; 22: 1.</ref>


==Management==
==Management==
*Neurosurgery consult
**If critically high ICP and no neurosurgeon available, may need to tap shunt as temporizing measure


==Disposition==
==Disposition==


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Ventriculoperitoneal shunt problems]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
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==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:Neurology]]

Latest revision as of 16:54, 3 October 2019

Background

Causes

  • Fracture of tubing
    • Occurs many years after shunt placement in distal tubing
    • May present with mild symptoms of increased ICP and local symptoms of pain, erythema, edema
  • Disconnection
    • Occurs shortly after insertion
  • Migration
    • Presents as shunt failure
  • Misplacement
    • Usually manifests postoperatively

Clinical Features

Differential Diagnosis

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt problems

Evaluation

  • Shunt series (AP and lateral x=rays of skull, AP x-rays of chest and abdomen)
  • Consider CT head
  • 24% of patients with documented shunt malfunction may show no radiologic evidence of the malfunction on plain films or CT[1]

Management

  • Neurosurgery consult
    • If critically high ICP and no neurosurgeon available, may need to tap shunt as temporizing measure

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Kim TY, Stewart G: Signs and symptoms of cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunction in the pediatric emergency department. Pediatr Emerg Care. 2006; 22: 1.