What's the Diagnosis? By Dr. Katie Selman
Wed, 08/07/2019 - 7:00am
Editor:
A 12 yo F w/ past medical history of partial complex seizures and congenital hydrocephalus s/p VP shunt (last revised 2 years ago)- presents w/ to the ED with headaches. Per parents, she has been complaining of headaches x 3 days. They have been giving her Tyelnol, which improves her symptoms for a few hours only. Today she had 2 episodes of vomiting. A shunt series is obtained. What's the diagnosis? (scroll down for answer)
Answer: disconnected VP shunt
- Ventriculoperitoneal shunt basics
- Proximal catheter (in lateral ventricle), valve, reservoir, distal catheter (ends in peritoneal cavity)
- Shunt drains CSF when the pressure in the ventricles is greater than a set presure controlled by the valve
- Ask patients/families about initial shunt placement/history of shunt revisions!
- Complications can be divided into 3 categories
- 1. Mechanical Failure: obstruction of drainage, break/disconnection of shunt, migration of shunt out of ventricle or peritoneum
- shunt series are most used to assess for disconnections/fractures of the shunt
- in the patient case above, a disconnection occurred, likely due to a recent growth spurt (in children, normal growth commonly leads to disconnections or migrations)
- 2. Infection: 90% of shunt infections occur in first 6 months
- 3. Functional failure: overdrainage of CSF or failure of peritoneum to absorb CSF
- Impairment in CSF circulation --> hydrocephalus --> increased ICP
- Symptoms include headache, nausea/vomiting, change in mental status
- In young children the symptoms may be nonspecific and include irritability, poor PO intake
- Check fontanelles in babies
References: Bober J, Rochlin J, Marneni S. Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Complications In Children: An Evidence-Based Approach To Emergency Department Management. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Practice. February 2016:1-24.