BackgroundVentriculoperitoneal shunt is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures in the treatment of hydrocephalus. There are reports of migration of the distal catheter to the breast pocket where cerebrospinal fluid then collects and can develop into a pseudocyst. There exist case reports in the literature of patients with prior breast augmentation who present with distal catheter migration from the peritoneal space into the breast tissue. We present a case series of three patients with pre-existing breast augmentation who returned with unilateral breast enlargement after ventriculoperitoneal shunt. In all three patients, the distal catheter migrated out of the peritoneal space and was found to be coiled around the breast prosthesis. Additionally, we offer recommendations for managing these complications and a review of the literature. MethodsWe performed a systematic review without meta-analysis of studies involving management of shunt migration in the setting of pre-existing breast implants. We present a case series of three patients who we treated with breast cerebrospinal pseudocyst after migration of the distal catheter into the breast tissue. ResultsA total of 17 studies, dating from 2002 to 2022, met our inclusion and exclusion criteria and were selected for full review. Catheter migration occurred between two weeks and 9 months of initial shunt placement. All patients presented with unilateral breast enlargement and CSF pseudocyst formation. All patients underwent revision shunt surgery. Surgical treatment strategies utilized included re-implantation of the distal catheter into the pleural space or ipsilateral or contralateral peritoneal space or complete removal of the entire shunt system. ConclusionsBreast-related VPS complications is a rare entity that is increasingly seen as more patients receive breast augmentation. Breast related shunt complications most commonly present with CSF pseudocyst formation in the breast. It is important for neurosurgeons to be aware of an underlying breast implant prior to placing a VPS. For patients who have migration of the distal catheter into the breast, a protocol for managing these situations should be followed to ensure no shunt infection and avoidance of future catheter migration complications with subsequent shunt revisions.
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