Turkish Neurosurgery
2014 , Vol 24 , Num 1
Iatrogenic Pneumothorax After Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt: An Unusual Complication and a Review of the Literature
Wakayama Rosai Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Wakayama, Japan
DOI :
10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.7928-13.0
A patient received a ventriculoperitoneal shunt operation for hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage. Postoperative computed
tomography incidentally revealed asymptomatic pneumothorax caused by a shunt tube passing through the thoracic space. The patient was
observed without removal of the tube or chest drainage, with the expectation of spontaneous recovery. However, the pneumothorax was not
cured, and chest drainage was performed and eventually resolved the pneumothorax. The ventriculoperitoneal shunt worked well, and the
patient recovered from consciousness disturbance. We discuss treatment strategies for this rare complication and how to avoid it. A review of
the literature suggests that female or obese patients may be associated with this complication.
Keywords :
Chest drainage, Complication, Pneumothorax, Ventriculoperitoneal shunt