P.163 Endoscopic third ventriculostomy for VP shunt malfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy: illustrative case

Abstract

Background: Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) is a successful procedure for treating noncommunicating hydrocephalus as an alternative to initial ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement and as a salvage procedure when a VP shunt fails. Physiological changes of pregnancy can lead to VP shunt failure and complicate the management of shunt malfunction, particularly in the third trimester. Methods: Case report: ETV was successfully used in the third trimester (31 weeks of gestation) of pregnancy for acute hydrocephalus due to VP shunt malfunction, and the patient went on to deliver a healthy baby at term; the patient remained well in the long-term follow-up. An English-language PubMed literature review revealed four cases of VP shunt failure successfully treated with an ETV in the first or second trimester but no such reports in the third trimester of pregnancy. Results: This case report adds to the sparse literature regarding the use of an ETV to treat VP shunt malfunction in the third trimester of pregnancy. This appears to be a unique first-time report of the use of an ETV during this specific challenging prenatal period. Conclusions: ETV appears to be a safe and effective alternative to VP shunt replacement in the late prenatal period of pregnancy in well-selected candidates.