Spontaneous extrusion of ventriculoperitoneal catheter through anterolateral chest wall: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Ventriculo-peritoneal shunting is the commonest surgery for management of hydrocephalus. However, about 80% develop complications in their lifetime. These include common ones like shunt blockage and infection, to rare ones like shunt migration, extrusion and perforation of viscus. The authors present a rare case of shunt extrusion through the chest wall of an 8 year old male. The shunt was inserted 3years earlier for post-meningitic hydrocephalus. Clinical Examination revealed extrusion of the peritoneal end of the shunt at the level of the 6th rib with cloudy CSF dripping from the tube. A chest radiograph done outlined the shunt. This is an unusual extrusion of a peritoneal shunt and literature search did not reveal any papers with a similar case in the region. We hope clinicians will always be wary of these rare complications for early recognition to improve outcome.