Turkish Neurosurgery
2013 , Vol 23 , Num 6
Free Floating Ventricular Shunt Catheter Between Lateral Ventricles: A Case Report of an Unusual Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Complication
Firat University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Elazig, Turkey
DOI :
10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.6351-12.2
Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt proximal tip disconnection is rarely seen as a shunt complication. Shunt dysfunction and hydrocephaly can
develop due to this disconnection. Presented here is a case of a disconnection of the ventricular catheter from the shunt valve, which passed
between both lateral ventricles by free floating in the brain CT. The patient was operated on for hydrocephaly. The dysfunctional shunt valve
and peritoneal catheter were removed and a new VP shunt system was implemented. Although some publications report that the ventricular
catheter can be disconnected from the shunt valve, can adhere to the intraventricular structures, and can be a source of infection, no studies
similar to the current case were found in the literature reporting a free floating ventricular catheter between the lateral ventricles.
Keywords :
Hydrocephaly, Shunt dysfunction, Free ventricular catheter