A Simple and Reliable Method for the Diagnosis of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Malfunction

World Neurosurg. 2017 Jul:103:355-359. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2017.04.051. Epub 2017 Apr 20.

Abstract

Objective: To provide a simple and reliable method for the diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction.

Methods: A total of 14 participants were enrolled in this study, consisting of 7 patients with suspected shunt malfunction and 7 control cases with apparent normal drainage. In all cases, 0.1 mL of 5% glucose solution was injected into the reservoir and 0.1 mL of cerebrospinal fluid was withdrawn from the reservoir 20 minutes later to measure glucose concentration.

Results: The glucose concentration in cerebrospinal fluid of the shunt malfunction group was greater than that of the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: The proposed method is reliable, safe, and relatively simple for the diagnosis of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction and provides a reference for treatment.

Keywords: Diagnosis; Malfunction; Ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure*
  • Female
  • Glucose / analysis
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Hydrocephalus / surgery
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt / instrumentation*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Glucose