Management of ventriculo-gallbladder shunt in the presence of gallstones.

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is a prevalent health problem that is frequently encountered by paediatric neurosurgeons during infancy and childhood. We report a case of an 11-year-old boy with high cerebrospinal fluid protein hydrocephalus secondary to optic glioma that required a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. The patient had multiple failures of VP shunt and developed massive ascites. Alternatively, the hydrocephalus was treated by ventriculo-gallbladder (VG) shunt in the presence of sludge which was removed from the gallbladder before placement of the shunt. After VG shunt insertion, the patient expressed signs of infection with elevated liver profile, which emphasised the presence of gallstones. While the shunt was kept in its place without any complications, the gallstones were successfully removed by an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. In conclusion, the presence of sludge is not a contraindication for VG shunt placement, and, if the VG shunt was complicated with gallstones, it could be treated without the need for cholecystectomy.

• Authors: Sondus Alraee, Sahar Alshowmer, Mohammad Alnamshan, Moutasem Azzubi
• Journal: BMJ case reports (BMJ Case Rep) Vol. 13 Issue 6 (Jun 24 2020) ISSN: 1757-790X [Electronic] England
• PMID: 32587118 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

Topics

• Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts (adverse effects, methods)
• Child
• Cholecystectomy (methods)
• Gallbladder (surgery)
• Gallstones (etiology, surgery)
• Humans
• Hydrocephalus (surgery)
• Male
• Postoperative Complications (etiology, surgery)