Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Failure Research Articles

Does Valve Design Affect the Tensile Strength of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts?

The most common treatment for hydrocephalus is ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting, which is problematic as shunts are prone to failure. Shunt disconnections account for a minority (8%-15%) of VP shunt failures but could be reduced through better shunt design. A better understanding of the mechanical properties of VP shunts would help explain why shunt disconnections occur. The objective of this study was to determine if the tensile properties of VP shunts differ by design. Linear tensile testing was conducted on 5 different valve designs (Codman Certas Plus Programmable Valve, Medtronic Delta, Integra Orbis Sigma Valve II, Medtronic PS Medical, Medtronic Strata Adjustable Valve) at both the proximal and distal ends to determine the maximum load which could be applied to different shunt designs. Each valve was progressively subjected to increasing force until the catheter disconnected from the valve, the catheter fractured, or our maximum testing limits were reached. Catheters disconnected or fractured during testing with all valves. The maximum load resisted during tensile testing for similar locations in all valve designs were found to be statistically similar to one another. Only the PS Medical and Orbis Sigma II valves showed an increased maximum load at the distal end compared with the proximal end within the same device. No single valve design was superior at preventing disconnections in VP shunts. Shunt disconnections remain a concerning problem as VP shunts are the gold standard for combating hydrocephalus.

Cerebrospinal fluid diversion prior to posterior fossa tumor resection in adults: A systematic review

Abstract Background Posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) comprise 15%–20% of adult brain tumors, with the reported frequency of hydrocephalus (HCP) ranging between 3.7% and 58%. Most HCP resolves after resection of PFTs, but studies report persistent or new-onset HCP occurring in between 2% and 7% of cases. Preoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS), external ventricular drain (EVD), or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) has been shown to improve outcomes. Evidence regarding the efficacy of these techniques is limited. Methods A systematic literature search was performed in line with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Data points were extracted from individual patient cohort data. A failure rate was determined by the number of patients requiring further postoperative CSF diversion. Results In total, 8863 records were identified. Thirteen studies consisting of 17 patient cohorts met our inclusion criteria. Across all individual cohort studies, 2976 patients underwent surgical resection of a PFT in whom the frequency of hydrocephalus at presentation was 22.98% (1.92%–100%), and persistent hydrocephalus following preoperative CSF diversion was 13.63% (0%–18%). Of the 684 hydrocephalic patients, 83.63% underwent CSF diversion in the form of ETV, EVD, or VPS. Between years 1992 and 2020, 1986 and 2021, and 1981and 2013, the pre-resection ETV, EVD, and VPS failure rates were 14.66% (17/116), 16.26% (60/369), and 0% (0/87), respectively. Conclusions This systematic review highlights that VPS has a better failure rate profile in minimizing postoperative hydrocephalus in adult patients with PFTs.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital

IntroductionVentriculoperitoneal shunt (VP shunt) insertion is one of the mainstays of treatment of hydrocephalus and although very effective, a high rate of shunt failure persists globally. The purpose of the study was to quantify the ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure rate at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital (RCWMCH) and assess potential factors contributing to shunt failures.MethodsA retrospective review of VP shunts done at RCWMCH between August 2015 through December 2019 was performed. Operative notes, discharge summaries and patient folders were reviewed to collect information about patient age, aetiology of hydrocephalus, index vs revision shunt, shunt system and other noticeable variables. Overall shunt failure was recorded. Univariate and multivariate models were used to determine causal relationship.ResultsFour hundred and ninety-four VP shunt operations were performed on 340 patients with 48.8% being index shunts and 51.2% revision shunts. The average patient age was 3.4 months. The total VP shunt failure rate over the study period was 31.2%, with a 7.3% infection rate, 13.6% blockage and 3.6% disconnection rate. The most common aetiologies were post-infectious hydrocephalus 29.4%, myelomeningocele 19.7% and premature intraventricular haemorrhage 14.1%. Orbis-sigma II (OSVII), distal slit valves and antibiotic-impregnated catheters were used most frequently. Failure rates were highest in the revision group, 34.7% compared to 27.3% in index shunts. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the head circumferences measured were above the + 3 Z score (> 90th centile).ConclusionVP shunt failure occurs most commonly in revision surgery, and care should be taken at the index operation to reduce failure risk. Surgeon level, duration of surgery, aetiology of hydrocephalus and shunt system used did not influence overall failure rates. A closer look at larger head circumferences, their effect on shunt systems and the socio-economic factors behind late presentations should be investigated further in the future.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunting obstruction: a multicentre clinical audit for cerebrospinal fluid parameters and its prediction role.

Shunt obstruction is a type of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure. Whether changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) parameters can influence shunt outcomes or not is debatable. In this study, we retrospectively included adult hydrocephalus patients who received VPS from 6 general hospitals in different provinces of China from November 2013 to September 2021. The inclusion criteria: Patients with hydrocephalus of all etiologies underwent shunt surgery from 6 general hospitals in different provinces of China were included in the study. The exclusion criteria: 1.Patients under the age of 18; 2.Patients who had previous shunt surgery; 3. Shunt failurefromother factors; 4.Patients died from other causes; 5. Patients with incomplete data. The CSF of shunt patients had been analyzed at the time of shunt insertion. The CSF samples were collected and analyzed when the shunt was implanted. The relationship between CSF parameters and the incidence rate of shunt obstruction in one year was analyzed. A total of 717 eligible patients from 6 hospitals were included, of whom 59(8.23%) experienced obstruction. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that protein level(odds ratio [OR] 1.161, 95% CI 1.005 ~ 1.341, p = 0.043), decreased glucose level(< 2.5 mmol/L)(odds ratio 3.784, 95% confidence interval 1.872 ~ 7.652, p = 0.001) and protein level increase(> 0.45 g/L) (odds ratio 3.653, 95% confidence interval 1.931 ~ 6.910, p = 0.001)were independent risk factors of shunt obstruction. This study suggested that increased protein level (> 0.45 g/L) and decreased glucose level (< 2.5 mmol/L) in CSF indicated an increased risk of shunt obstruction in a patient with hydrocephalus. Thus, shunt surgery should be more carefully considered when the CSF glucose and protein were abnormal.

Mechanical shunt failure in hydrocephalus: a common but remediable complication with technical nuances

BackgroundA ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is a cerebral shunt that diverts excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Obstruction in the normal outflow or decreased absorption of the fluid is the usual cause. Hydrocephalus is treated by cerebral shunts.In paediatric patients, untreated hydrocephalus can be lethal and leads to many adverse effects including increase irritabilities, chronic headaches, learning difficulties, visual disturbances, and, in more advanced cases, severe mental retardation. Malfunction of the shunt with excess CSF accumulated can increase the intracranial pressure resulting in cerebral oedema and ultimately herniation.ObjectiveTo study and evaluate the mechanical causes of shunt failure and their surgical remedies and reduce the preventable morbidity, cost and mortality associated with shunt failure.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study including 70 patients who developed pure mechanical shunt failure for the first time from 2017 to 2020 in the Department of Neurosurgery Sher-i-kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences. Patients with previous shunt surgeries which include VP shunting and shunt revision or failure and shunt infections were excluded. Identity of all the patients has been kept anonymus. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients or their guardians in case of minors. Shunt malfunction was in the form of catheter misplacement, kinking, displacement from the ventricle or peritoneal cavity, disconnection, migration,inadvertent suturing of the catheter, air in shunt bulb.ResultsWe found kinking at the proximal end in 25 (35%) patients as the most common cause of shunt failure. It was mostly as a result of inadequate and less spacious tunnelling made for the reservoir. Inadvertant suturing of shunt while closing abdomen in 7 (10%), shunt disconnection in 6 (8.5%), air in shunt bulb in 2 (2.8%), wrong placement at ventricular end in 10 (14.2%), shunt migration into the brain parenchyma in 5 (7.1%), shunt migration through the anal canal in 1(1.4%), pseudomeningocele around catheter valve in 3 (4.2%), placement of lower end into the preperitoneal space in 4 (5.7%) patients.ConclusionsShunt surgery is seemingly a straightforward operation for neurosurgeons. But considering the incidence of shunt failure and its associated morbidity and mortality, it should always be done with trepidation and extreme caution. Exclusive mechanical shunt malfunction is a major concern and leads to great deal of morbidity in the shunt operations. However, there are trivial remedies and technical nuances which needs to be followed during surgery to avoid these complications.

Ventriculo – Gallbladder shunt

Abstract Introduction: Permanent liquor diversion is associated with a high risk of failure and often requires re-intervention. The ventriculo-gallbladder shunt (VGS) has been recognized as a last-resort alternative for treating hydrocephalus when the peritoneum or other distal sites are no longer suitable for receiving shunts. This article aims to report a case from a neurosurgery referral service in Brazil and review the literature on this issue. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched for data screening and extraction. The reported case was conducted with ethical approval from the neurosurgical hospital's ethics committee. Results: G.B.S, male, 43 years old, no comorbidities, who has been dealing with a 12-year history of hydrocephalus, with post-surgical chronic fungal meningitis. Two years ago, he underwent a ventriculoatrial shunt (VAS) placement due to multiple ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failures. Endocarditis was suspected, and the VAS was removed. As an alternative, VGS was implanted 6 months ago, and since then, there has been no need for a new system review. The gallbladder has an absorptive capacity of 1500 cc of liquid daily, which is more than the normal daily production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Therefore, it is a good alternative when the ventriculoperitoneal shunt is not feasible due to postsurgical peritoneal adhesions or when there are contraindications for ventriculoatrial shunts. Conclusion: VGS is an alternative for patients who cannot undergo the most common surgical interventions, such as VPS. Keywords: Ventriculo-gallbladder; Shunt; Hydrocephalus; Ventriculo-vesicular; Gallbladder.

Postconception age at surgery as a predictor of ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure.

The gold standard of pediatric hydrocephalus management is the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. However, VP shunts have high failure rates, and both young age and prematurity have been identified as potential risk factors for shunt failure, although neither variable describes total development at the time of surgery. This study aimed to further characterize age and shunt failure through the use of postconception age at surgery (PCAS) as well as investigate the 40-week PCAS threshold initially described in 1999. A retrospective analysis was conducted on all first-time shunt placements at the authors' institution from 2010 to 2021. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) pediatric hydrocephalus dataset was used as a parallel analysis to ensure representativeness of the national pediatric hydrocephalus population. In the institutional cohort, infants with a PCAS < 40 weeks exhibited 2.4 times greater odds of shunt failure than those with a PCAS ≥ 40 weeks. In the NSQIP dataset, infants with a PCAS < 40 weeks had 1.45 times greater odds of shunt failure compared with those with a PCAS ≥ 40 weeks. The 40-week PCAS threshold appears to be a significant predictor of shunt failure in pediatric patients with hydrocephalus. This finding underscores the importance of considering the developmental stage at the time of surgery, rather than just prematurity status, when assessing shunt failure risk.

Ventriculoatrial and ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction and infection in infants with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus are both conditions that can affect preterm infants. The peritoneum is the preferred terminus for shunt placement, but another terminus is sometimes used due to subjective concerns about infection and complications related to NEC. The aim of this study was to examine the rates of ventriculoatrial (VA) and ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt infection and failure in pediatric patients with a history of NEC. A single-center retrospective review of medical records from 2009 to 2021 was performed to identify pediatric patients with NEC who underwent shunt placement before 2 years of age. Patients were excluded if shunt placement preceded NEC diagnosis. Patient demographic characteristics, timing of shunt placement, type of shunt, shunt infections or revisions, and timing and management of NEC were extracted. The Student t-test and Fisher exact test were used to calculate significance. Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated. Twenty-two patients met the inclusion criteria. Most patients underwent VP shunt placement (16 [71.4%]). Patients who underwent surgical management of NEC compared with those who underwent medical management were more likely to have a VA shunt placed (p = 0.02). One VA shunt and 3 VP shunts became infected during follow-up (p = 0.7). The mean time until infection was not significantly different between VA and VP shunts (p = 0.73). Significantly more VA shunts required revision (83% vs 31%, p = 0.04), and VA shunts had a significantly shorter time until failure (3.0 ± 0.8 vs 46.3 ± 7.55 months, p = 0.03). VP shunts had a significantly longer time until failure than VA shunts; these shunts had similar infection rates in infants with prior NEC. When feasible, neurosurgeons and pediatric general surgeons can consider placing a VP shunt even if the patient has a history of NEC.

Venous 3D Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Angiography Increases Diagnostic Certainty in Children with Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt and Suspected Shunt Failure

BackgroundClinical symptoms in children with suspected malfunction of ventriculoperitoneal shunt may not be specific and difficult to interpret. The presence or absence of ventricular enlargement on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) does not reliably predict raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in these patients. Therefore, the aim was to investigate the diagnostic utility of 3D venous phase-contrast MR angiography (vPCA) in these patients.MaterialsThe MR studies of two groups of patients at two different examination dates were retrospectively analyzed; one group without clinical symptoms on both examinations and one with symptoms of shunt dysfunction on one examination receiving surgery. Both MRI examinations had to have been performed including axial T2 weighted (T2-w) images and 3D vPCA. Two (neuro)radiologists evaluated T2-w images alone and in combination with 3D vPCA in terms of suspected elevated ICP. Interrater reliability, sensitivity and specificity were assessed.ResultsCompression of venous sinuses was seen significantly more often in patients with shunt failure (p = 0.00003). Consequently, evaluation of 3D vPCA and T2-w images increases sensitivity to 0.92/1.0 compared to T2-w images alone with 0.69/0.77, the interrater agreement for the diagnosis of shunt failure rises from κ = 0.71 to κ = 0.837. Concerning imaging markers, three groups could be identified in children with shunt failure.ConclusionIn accordance with the literature, the results show that ventricular morphology alone is an unreliable marker for elevated ICP in children with shunt malfunction. The findings confirmed 3D vPCA as a valuable supplemental diagnostic tool improving diagnostic certainty for children with unchanged ventricular size in cases of shunt failure.

Paediatric ventriculoperitoneal shunt failures: 12-year experience from a Singapore children's hospital.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt failures in children are devastating. The primary aims of this study are to, firstly, review our institutional series of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS)insertions and identify factors associated with shunt failure. This is a single-institution, retrospective study conducted over a 12-year period. All patients under 18years old with VPS inserted were included. Variables of interest such as patient characteristics, hydrocephalus aetiology, shunt implant details, and outcomes were subjected to statistical analyses. A total of 214 VPS patients were selected for this study. The mean age at VPS insertion was 6months with a mean follow-up duration of 44months. The most common type of hydrocephalus was obstructive (n = 142, 66.4%), and the most frequent aetiology was tumour-related (n = 66, 30.8%). The 30-day shunt failure rate was 9.3%: 9 infections (4.2%), 7 occlusions (3.3%), and 4 others (1.9%). After multivariable analysis, only recent central nervous system (CNS) infection prior to VPS insertionremained significant (OR 15.4 (1.3-175), p = 0.028). This is the first, large-scale local study focused on the shunt failure in Singaporean children. Significant findings in our study demonstrate that recently treated CNS infection is a factor associated with 30-day shunt failure while the values of CSF constituents were not contributory.

Parental sensitivity and specificity to recognize shunt malfunction in their child: a single-center prospective study.

The objective of this study was to estimate the diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value) for recognizing ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure in the parents of patients 0-18 years of age who attended the hospital's emergency room (ER). The second objective was to identify the factors associated with the parents' ability to recognize the shunt blockage (true positives). A prospective cohort study was conducted between 2021 and 2022 including all patients 0-18 years of age who had a VPS and attended the hospital's ER with symptoms that could correspond to VPS blockage. Parents were interviewed on admission and patients were assessed over time to discover potential VPS malfunction by surgery or follow-up. Consent was obtained from all participants. Ninety-one patients were surveyed, and 59.3% showed evidence of a confirmed VPS blockage. Parental sensitivity was 66.7%, with a specificity of 21.6%. An association was found between parents who could correctly identify their child's shunt block and the number of symptoms of shunt failure that the parent could name (OR 2.4, p < 0.05) as well as parents who reported vomiting and headache as symptoms of shunt malfunction (OR 6, p < 0.05). Parents who knew the first and last name of their primary neurosurgeon (OR 3.5, p < 0.05) also had better diagnostic sensitivity. Parents who are more knowledgeable of their child's disease, as well as parents who have good communication with their neurosurgeon, were found to have better diagnostic sensitivity.

2312. Utility of Intrathecal Antibiotic Administration in the Reduction of Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt Infections in our Urban Referral Health Center

Abstract Background Infection is one of the primary causes of VP shunt failure, with an incidence rate of 7%-14%. Systemic antibiotics, administered intravenously (IV), are considered the standard of care (SOC) for perioperative prophylaxis. Prophylactic intrathecal (IT) administration of antibiotics, in addition to SOC, is practiced by some surgeons at our institution. Our objective was to study the impact of this modality on VP shunt infections. Methods A retrospective review of all VP shunt procedures at our institution from 2018–2020 was performed. Patients with active VP shunt infection were excluded. We compared the incidence of 90-day postoperative shunt infection in patients who received IT and SOC antibiotics (intervention group) to patients who only received SOC IV antibiotics (control group). Data collection included demographics, comorbidities, prophylactic antibiotics used, and pathogens implicated in shunt infections. T-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous variables; chi-square or Fisher’s exact test was used to assess the relationship between categorical variables. A value of p &amp;lt; 0.05, on two-tailed testing, was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 112 patients were included in the study. Control and intervention arms comprised 54 (48.2%) and 58 patients (51.8%), respectively. All patients received parenteral perioperative antibiotics. The most commonly used agent was cefazolin (83.9%). Patients in the intervention arm received 4 mg of gentamicin and 5 mg of vancomycin intrathecally. Baseline characteristics were not statistically different between the groups. Among the 112 patients, 12 (10.7%) developed shunt infection; 4 in the intervention and 8 in the control arm. Infection rates were not statistically different in these groups (χ2 (1) =1.83, p= 0.176). However, there was a statistically significant association between history of prior shunt (uninfected) placement and post-operative shunt infection (Fisher’s exact test, p = 0.025). Conclusion Our study did not reveal additional benefit of prophylactic IT antibiotic use in decreasing VP shunt infections. History of prior shunt placement was identified as risk factor, however. Limitations include relatively small sample size, retrospective, and a single-center study. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a common adult neurosurgical condition typically requiring treatment with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt, of which the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is the most common type. Unfortunately, the failure rates of VP shunts are alarmingly high, with up to 50% of patients requiring revision surgery within 2 years. VP shunt failure may occur due to infection, or catheter mispositioning, migration, and occlusion. We undertook a joint neurosurgery and general surgery collaboration in a 7-year prospective non-randomized consecutive quality improvement cohort study to reduce the rates of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failures in 224 adult patients at a tertiary care institution. The initiative combined the use of electromagnetic stereotactic neuronavigation to guide the placement of the proximal catheter and laparoscopy to place the distal catheter under direct visualization. With laparoscopic assistance, the distal catheter was anchored through a small hole created in the falciform ligament and placed into the right retrohepatic space, free from the omentum, adhesions, or bowel that might obstruct the catheter tip. The surgeries were performed using a shunt infection prevention protocol to reduce the risk of shunt infections. Here, we present an intraoperative video of the surgical procedure. Compliance with shunt infection reduction strategies and the combined utilization of neuronavigation and laparoscopy techniques in adult VP shunt surgery resulted in a 44% reduction in the risk of overall shunt failure. The significant positive impact with regard to shunt-failure-free patient outcomes among patients who underwent VP shunt surgery using this strategy underscores the value associated with the use of these modern intraoperative techniques and cross-specialty collaboration during VP shunt surgery.

Neuronavigation and Laparoscopy Guided Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Insertion for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Hydrocephalus is a common adult neurosurgical condition typically requiring treatment with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt, of which the ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is the most common type. Unfortunately, the failure rates of VP shunts are alarmingly high, with up to 50% of patients requiring revision surgery within 2 years. VP shunt failure may occur due to infection, or catheter mispositioning, migration, and occlusion. We undertook a joint neurosurgery and general surgery collaboration in a 7-year prospective non-randomized consecutive quality improvement cohort study to reduce the rates of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failures in 224 adult patients at a tertiary care institution. The initiative combined the use of electromagnetic stereotactic neuronavigation to guide the placement of the proximal catheter and laparoscopy to place the distal catheter under direct visualization. With laparoscopic assistance, the distal catheter was anchored through a small hole created in the falciform ligament and placed into the right retrohepatic space, free from the omentum, adhesions, or bowel that might obstruct the catheter tip. The surgeries were performed using a shunt infection prevention protocol to reduce the risk of shunt infections. Here, we present an intraoperative video of the surgical procedure. Compliance with shunt infection reduction strategies and the combined utilization of neuronavigation and laparoscopy techniques in adult VP shunt surgery resulted in a 44% reduction in the risk of overall shunt failure. The significant positive impact with regard to shunt-failure-free patient outcomes among patients who underwent VP shunt surgery using this strategy underscores the value associated with the use of these modern intraoperative techniques and cross-specialty collaboration during VP shunt surgery.

Ventriculo-gallbladder shunt: a case report of a neglected technique

Hydrocephalus is a common central nervous system (CNS) disorder in which there is an excess of cerebrospinal fluid within the cerebral ventricles, leading to their dilation. There are several pathologies that lead to this scenario: cerebral aqueduct stenosis, congenital malformations, cerebral neoplasms, cerebral hemorrhages, traumatic brain injury and meningitis, while the signs and symptoms differ according to age, underlying disease, malformations or associated injuries, and intracranial pressure level. The invasive treatment routinely performed for hydrocephalus is the insertion of a drainage system, known as a bypass. The present report describe a case of a 4-year-old patient with a history of using multiple ventricular shunts with multiple complications which had as a definitive treatment a ventriculogallbladder shunt (VGB) technique, and was asymptomatic after 2 years of follow-up. VGB has a great indication factor, does not present physiological changes due to its absorption of CSF, manifests fewer complications during its use, and is controlled by radiography and USG. However, it is currently used in cases of ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VP) failure. A VGB placement carries the same risk of all inherent complications that can occur with a VP, including malfunction and infection. It can be concluded that a VGB is underestimated by most physicians as it is not a conventional method. Despite this, it should be an alternative to be considered in case of refractory patients and in the absence of effectiveness of other types of shunts.

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

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.

The utility of congenital cardiac status to predict endoscopic third ventriculostomy and ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in hydrocephalic infants.

The effect of congenital cardiac status on endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) failure in hydrocephalic infants is unknown. Because cardiac status in infants can impact central venous pressure (CVP), it is possible that congenital heart disease (CHD) and congenital cardiac anomalies may render these cerebrospinal fluid diversion interventions more susceptible to failure. Correspondingly, the aim of this study was to determine how CHD and congenital cardiac anomalies may impact the failure of these initial interventions. A retrospective review of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database was conducted. Infants (aged < 1 year) with known congenital cardiac status managed with either ETV or VPS were included. Quantitative data were compared using either parametric or nonparametric methods, and failure rates were modeled using univariable and multivariable regression analyses. A total of 18,763 infants treated with ETV or VPS for hydrocephalus were identified in our search, with ETV used to treat 7657 (41%) patients and VPS used to treat 11,106 (59%). There were 6722 (36%) patients who presented with CHD at admission, and a total of 25 unique congenital cardiac anomalies were detected across the cohort. Overall, the most common anomaly was patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 4990 (27%) patients, followed by atrial septal defect (ASD) in 2437 (13%) patients and pulmonary hypertension in 810 (4%) patients. With respect to initial intervention failure, 3869 (21%) patients required repeat surgical intervention during admission. This was significantly more common in the ETV group than the VPS group (36% vs 10%, p < 0.01). In both the ETV and VPS groups, CHD (p < 0.01), including all congenital cardiac anomalies, was an independent and significant predictor of failure. ASD (p < 0.01) and PDA (p < 0.01) both significantly predicted ETV failure, and PDA (p < 0.01) and pulmonary hypertension (p = 0.02) both significantly predicted VPS failure. These results indicate that congenital cardiac status predicts ETV and VPS failure in patients with infantile hydrocephalus. The authors hypothesized that this finding was primarily due to changes in CVP; however, this may not be completely universal across both interventions and all congenital cardiac anomalies. Future studies about optimization of congenital cardiac status with ETV and VPS are required to understand the practical significance of these findings.

P.207 Reducing the risks of proximal and distal shunt failure in adult hydrocephalus: A Shunt Outcomes Quality Improvement (ShOut-QI) Study

Background: Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failures in adult patients are common and subject patients to multiple surgeries and a decreased quality of life. A prospective cohort Shunt Outcomes Quality Improvement (ShOut-QI) initiative was implemented to reduce shunt failure incidence through neuronavigation-assisted proximal catheter insertion and laparoscopy-guided distal catheter anchoring over the liver dome to drain CSF away from the omentum. Methods: “Pre-ShOut” and “Post-ShOut” groups of patients included those with and without neuronavigation/laparoscopy, respectively for insertion of a new VP shunt. The primary outcome was shunt failure which was defined as any return to surgery for shunt revision as determined with a standardized clinical and radiology follow-up protocol. Results: 244 patients (97 Pre-ShOut, 147 Post-ShOut), mean age 73 years, were enrolled over a 7-year interval and observed for a mean duration of 4 years after shunt insertion. Neuronavigation improved proximal catheter placement accuracy by 20% (p&lt;.001), and shunt failure occurred in 57% vs 23% in the Pre-ShOut and Post-ShOut groups, respectively (p=.008), representing a 53% relative risk reduction in the incidence of shunt failure. Conclusions: Adult shunt failure incidence may be significantly reduced by improving the accuracy of proximal catheter placement with neuronavigation and reducing the risk of distal catheter failure with laparoscopic-guided placement.

Sheath formation around peritoneal tube: possible explanation for unknown cause of ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure.

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt failures are common and are frequently associated with an obstruction of the peritoneal tube. This study aimed to explore the possible causes of peritoneal tube obstruction, which are largely unknown. From January 1981 to June 2018, we performed VP shunting in 646 patients with hydrocephalus. Among the procedures performed, 148 shunt revision procedures were performed in 98 patients with VP shunt failure. Of the study participants, 64 (43.2%) patients were diagnosed with peritoneal tube obstruction and five patients developed sheath formation that obstructed the end of the peritoneal tubes. Sheath formation around the peritoneal tube is a possible cause of VP shunt dysfunction.

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt failure in pediatric patients: an analysis of a national hospitalization database in Thailand.

Shunt failure is common among patients undergoing ventriculoperitoneal shunting for treatment of hydrocephalus. The present study examined long-term shunt failure and associated risk factors in pediatric patients by using a national hospitalization database of Thailand. Patients 17 years or younger who had been admitted to 71 public hospitals in 2012-2017 for first-time ventriculoperitoneal shunting for diseases with known etiology and discharged alive were followed through 2019 to ascertain shunt failure. Shunt survivals were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and time to failure was analyzed to identify risk factors for the first failure by using Cox proportional hazards regression. Differences in risks of subsequent failures with respect to place in the order of failures (i.e., first, second, third) were determined using a cumulative hazard function. Over a median follow-up of 29.9 months, shunt failure occurred in 33.7% of 2072 patients (median age 8.8 months), with a higher proportion in patients < 1 year than in patients 1-17 years (37.8% vs 28.9%, p < 0.001), and ranged from 26.1% of those having posttraumatic hydrocephalus to 35.9% of those having infectious diseases. The shunt failure rates at 3, 6, and 12 months were 11.5%, 19.0%, and 25.2%, respectively. Patients < 1 year had a higher risk of the first failure than patients 1-17 years (hazard ratio 1.45, 95% CI 1.20-1.76). Among those with shunt failure, 35.8% had multiple failures and 52.9% failed within 180 days after the index shunting. The cumulative hazard of subsequent failure was consistently higher than that of an earlier failure regardless of age and etiology, and the cumulative hazard of the second failure in the patients with 180-day failure was higher than that in the patients in whom shunts failed beyond 180 days. Shunt failure occurred more frequently in younger pediatric patients. Much attention should be placed on the initial shunt operation so as to mitigate the failure risk. Close follow-up was crucial once patients had developed the failure, because the risk of subsequent failure was more likely than an earlier one among those with multiple failures.