Ventriculoperitoneal shunting (VPS) is a major therapy for hydrocephalus, but has a significant risk of device malfunctioning. In this study, we explored a novel distal shunt catheter placement method in VPS for the treatment of hydrocephalus. Five patients with different etiologies of hydrocephalus underwent VPS with open distant shunt catheter attached outside. We analyzed different variables (age, gender, medical history, clinical presentation, indication for surgery and surgical technique, postoperative complications) and occurrence of shunt failure and infection. All hydrocephalus patients who received the distal shunt catheter placed outside can undergo regular VPS again after the condition improves. The modified VPS in the treatment of hydrocephalus with the distal shunt catheter placed outside could potentially reduce the necessity of repeat surgery for addressing the complications caused by catheter obstruction and infections, reduce the chance of adhesions, and would be of benefit to those patients who need future revisions.
Keywords: Hydrocephalus; Infection; Ventricular peritoneal shunt.