Cerebrospinal fluid shunts in pregnancy. Report of two cases and review of the literature.

With the introduction of silicone indwelling cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts in the 1960s, the prognosis for children with hydrocephalus changed dramatically. These individuals are leading normal and productive lives today. Many women with CSF shunts are not entering the childbearing years. Previously, only 13 cases of pregnancy occurring in patients with CSF shunts have been reported. We present two cases here and review the complications and outcome of the other reported cases. Shunt malfunction appears to be common in pregnancy due to increased intraperitoneal pressure and the enlarging uterus. Rarely is surgical correction or premature delivery necessary. A successful pregnancy ending in the vaginal delivery of a term infant can be expected in the majority of these patients.