[The clinical application of ventriculovesical shunts].

Objective

To report a clinical protocol for the application of ventriculovesical shunts (VV shunts) in patient who may be unable to maintain or receive ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts.

Methods

25 patients underwent placement of VV shunts as an alternative to VP shunt therapy from March 2010 through March 2016. They all have malfunction of the VP shunt for the following reasons: peritoneal fluid inclusion(11 cases), failure of the peritoneum to absorb cerebrospinal fluid(7 cases), intra-abdominal infection(5 cases), peritoneal irritation pain(2 cases). The patients ranged in age from 5 years to 68 years old. All the patients underwent preoperative examine including urine routines, renal function electrolyte examination, imaging of the urinary bladder by ultrasonography.

Results

Two patients died from other diseases, one patient's shunts were removed due to proximal catheter occlusion 2 years after the operation, the penis pain was occurred in one patient. The rest patients had functional VV shunts.

Conclusions

Ventriculovesical shunts may be considered for the treatment of hydrocephalus when the peritoneal cavity cannot be used as a distal terminus.